Overtraining in endurance athletes: a brief review

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Exercise Physiology
• Human Performance

Background:

• Overtraining is defined as an imbalance between training stress and recovery.
• It can lead to peripheral (short-term overtraining, STO) or central fatigue (long-term overtraining, LTO).
• Short-term overtraining (overreaching) is recoverable within days, while LTO may result in overtraining syndrome.

Purpose of the Study:

• To differentiate between short-term overtraining and long-term overtraining syndrome.
• To describe the characteristics and prognosis of each condition.
• To discuss the evolving symptomatology of overtraining syndrome.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on overtraining and its effects.
• Analysis of performance capacity, fatigue, and recovery markers.
• Examination of symptomatology changes over time.

Main Results:

• Short-term overtraining (overreaching) involves temporary performance decrements and is quickly reversible.
• Long-term overtraining syndrome (staleness) presents with persistent fatigue, mood disturbances, and reduced performance, requiring weeks or months for recovery.
• The dominant form of overtraining syndrome in endurance athletes has shifted from a sympathetic to a parasympathetic presentation.

Conclusions:

• Overtraining syndrome, particularly the parasympathetic form, significantly impacts athletes' performance and well-being.
• Effective training monitoring is crucial but requires further validation for practical application.
• Understanding the distinction between overreaching and overtraining syndrome is vital for appropriate management and recovery strategies.