Overtraining

The accumulation of training and/or nontraining stress, which results in a short-term decrease in performance capacity and may be accompanied by psychological symptoms. Recovery of performance capacity and resolution of psychological symptoms can take from several days to several weeks to occur (1).

The accumulation of training and/or nontraining stress, which results in a long-term decrease in performance capacity and may be accompanied by psychological symptoms. Recovery of performance capacity and resolution of psychological symptoms can take from several weeks to several months to occur. When being used to describe a clinical entity, this is often referred to as the “overtraining syndrome” (OTS). Synonym(s) include “unexplained underperformance syndrome,” “staleness,” and “burnout” (1).

Helpful in determining the cumulative strain involved with training

To be useful in early detection of OTS, systematic documentation of subjective and objective factors must be completed at baseline (when the athlete has no signs or symptoms) and reevaluated regularly.

Although small daily variations occur in athletes, training logs can identify an individual athlete's abnormal response to training at an early stage.

Once identified, interventions can be made to prevent further deterioration of performance and normalization of subjective and objective criteria.

Training logs should include:

Recognize overtraining early and intervene.

Avoid monotony in training.

Avoid punishing poor training performance with higher levels of training.

Training goals should be formulated on a week-to-week basis during times of increased training.

Training loads should display day-to-day variability.

Alternate hard day/easy day and include 1 rest day per week (hard day = RPE >5; easy day = RPE <5)

If athlete begins to show strain (performance decrements, increasing RPE at low-level training), reduce training to a lower level.