Overtraining in the Female Athlete

Jacalyn J. Robert-McComb, Jacalyn J. Robert-McComb, PhD, FACSMPhD, FACSM

Abigail Schubert, BS, PT Abigail Schubert, BS, PT Graduate StudentGraduate Student

Texas Tech UniversityTexas Tech University

Learning Objectives

• Define overtraining and stalenessDefine overtraining and staleness• Discuss various responses to overtraining Discuss various responses to overtraining

and staleness:and staleness:• Mood swingsMood swings• Hormonal Responses Hormonal Responses

• List signs of overtrainingList signs of overtraining

Introduction to the Overload Principle

The body must be exposed to progressive The body must be exposed to progressive amounts of overload in order to continue amounts of overload in order to continue experiencing adaptations.experiencing adaptations.

When exposed to excessive physical stress the When exposed to excessive physical stress the body may begin to exhibit signs of body may begin to exhibit signs of overtraining and/or staleness.overtraining and/or staleness.

Staleness vs. Overtraining

• Overtraining- Overtraining- Typically short term, caused Typically short term, caused by an imbalance between training and by an imbalance between training and recovery time.recovery time.

• StalenessStaleness- due to extended periods of - due to extended periods of overtraining. Has far greater consequences.overtraining. Has far greater consequences.

• Both hinder athletic performance Both hinder athletic performance

Short Term Overtraining

• Also called over-reachingAlso called over-reaching• Over-reaching refers to a brief period of heavy Over-reaching refers to a brief period of heavy

overload without adequate recovery.overload without adequate recovery.• Overreaching can actually contribute to enhanced Overreaching can actually contribute to enhanced

performance since it usually lasts no more than two performance since it usually lasts no more than two weeks. weeks.

• Can easily be reversed with a few days of reduced Can easily be reversed with a few days of reduced training intensity/volume or complete rest.training intensity/volume or complete rest.

• Supercompensation can be achieve after over-Supercompensation can be achieve after over-reaching within a few weeks of restreaching within a few weeks of rest

Staleness

• Also termed the overtraining syndromeAlso termed the overtraining syndrome• Occurs after long periods of over-reachingOccurs after long periods of over-reaching• Much more serious condition than over-reachingMuch more serious condition than over-reaching• Causes fatigue and inability to complete workouts Causes fatigue and inability to complete workouts

and competition at previous levelsand competition at previous levels• The OTS is defined as persistent underperforming, The OTS is defined as persistent underperforming,

with or without other accompanying psychological with or without other accompanying psychological and physical symptoms, despite weeks of lighter and physical symptoms, despite weeks of lighter training or complete rest .training or complete rest .

Types of Staleness

SympatheticSympathetic-changes in the adrenal -changes in the adrenal

medullar response medullar response systemsystem

-non-endurance type -non-endurance type sportssports

-high resting heart rate, -high resting heart rate, decreased appetite and decreased appetite and weight lossweight loss

ParasympatheticParasympathetic

-altered pituitary adrenal -altered pituitary adrenal cortical responsecortical response

-low pulse, fatigue early -low pulse, fatigue early in exercise, excessive in exercise, excessive sleepsleep

Profile of Mood States

• Measurement used in studies to determine Measurement used in studies to determine one’s mood profileone’s mood profile

• Rank moods such as anger, fatigue, Rank moods such as anger, fatigue, confusion, depression, vigor and tensionconfusion, depression, vigor and tension

• Athletes tend to rank high in vigor and low Athletes tend to rank high in vigor and low in the other moodsin the other moods

• However, overtrained athletes show higher However, overtrained athletes show higher scores in fatigue and depressionscores in fatigue and depression

Mood and Overtraining

• Overtraining can lead to prolonged periods of Overtraining can lead to prolonged periods of depressed mood states coupled with fatigue.depressed mood states coupled with fatigue.

• This often leads to stress that further compounds This often leads to stress that further compounds the problem and hinders performancethe problem and hinders performance

• Coaches should be aware of the mental states of Coaches should be aware of the mental states of their athletes in order to catch a problem before their athletes in order to catch a problem before performance is affectedperformance is affected

Hormonal Responses to Overtraining and Staleness• Overtraining syndrome has thought to be Overtraining syndrome has thought to be

diagnosed by the changes in the recovery diagnosed by the changes in the recovery phase of the plasma levels of certain phase of the plasma levels of certain hormones (epinephrine, norepinephrine, hormones (epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol) cortisol)

• However, results have been inconsistentHowever, results have been inconsistent

Hormonal Responses Cont.

• Increments in plasma cortisol levels Increments in plasma cortisol levels immediately after exercise have been found immediately after exercise have been found by some authors (Kuoppasaimi, Naveri, by some authors (Kuoppasaimi, Naveri, Harkonen, et al., 1980 , whereas others have Harkonen, et al., 1980 , whereas others have found decrements in adrenocorticotropic found decrements in adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol responses in trained hormone and cortisol responses in trained runners following a bolus of ovine runners following a bolus of ovine corticotropin-releasing hormone (Luger, corticotropin-releasing hormone (Luger, Duester, Kyle, et al., 1987). Duester, Kyle, et al., 1987).

Overtraining in Athletes• Athletes that exceed 30 hrs of training a Athletes that exceed 30 hrs of training a

week are susceptible to staleness.week are susceptible to staleness.

• Most athletes experience overtraining at Most athletes experience overtraining at least once in their career .least once in their career .

Signs and Symptoms of Overtraining

• Alteration in physiological functions Alteration in physiological functions and adaptations to performanceand adaptations to performance

• Psychological symptomsPsychological symptoms• Immunological dysfunctionImmunological dysfunction• Biochemical alterationsBiochemical alterations

Source: Fry FW, Morton AR, Keast D. Overtraining in athletes: an Source: Fry FW, Morton AR, Keast D. Overtraining in athletes: an update. Sports Med 1991;12:32-65.update. Sports Med 1991;12:32-65.

Alteration in Physiological Functions and Adaptations to Performance

• Decreased performanceDecreased performance• Decreased muscular Decreased muscular

strengthstrength• Muscle soreness and Muscle soreness and

tendernesstenderness• Reduced tolerance of Reduced tolerance of

loadingloading• Recovery prolongedRecovery prolonged• Chronic fatigueChronic fatigue

• HeadacheHeadache• Sleep-wake cycle Sleep-wake cycle

abnormalitiesabnormalities• Changes in blood pressure Changes in blood pressure

and heart rateand heart rate• Alterations in sexual Alterations in sexual

functionsfunctions• Gastrointestinal Gastrointestinal

disturbancesdisturbances

Psychological Symptoms

• Feelings of depressionFeelings of depression• General apathyGeneral apathy• Difficulty in concentrationDifficulty in concentration• Emotional instabilityEmotional instability• Fear of competitionFear of competition• Loss of appetiteLoss of appetite• Excitation and restlessnessExcitation and restlessness

Immunological Dysfunction

• Increased susceptibility to bacterial Increased susceptibility to bacterial infectionsinfections

• Reactivation of herpes viral infectionsReactivation of herpes viral infections• Decreased functional activity of Decreased functional activity of

neutrophilsneutrophils• Decreased total lymphocyte countDecreased total lymphocyte count• Decreased production and secretion of Decreased production and secretion of

immunoglobulinsimmunoglobulins

Biochemical Alterations

• Decreased hemoglobin, Decreased hemoglobin, serum iron and ferritinserum iron and ferritin

• Negative nitrogen balanceNegative nitrogen balance• Increased urea levelsIncreased urea levels• Increased uric acid Increased uric acid

productionsproductions• Decreased glutamine Decreased glutamine

concentrationconcentration

• Mineral depletion (Zn, Mineral depletion (Zn, Co, Al, Mn, SE, Cu, etc.)Co, Al, Mn, SE, Cu, etc.)

• Low free testosteroneLow free testosterone• Decreased free Decreased free

testosterone to cortisol testosterone to cortisol ratio of more than 30%ratio of more than 30%

Conclusion

Universally agreed diagnostic criteria for Universally agreed diagnostic criteria for OTS are lacking OTS are lacking

Despite the research that has been Despite the research that has been conducted on the overtraining syndrome conducted on the overtraining syndrome known as staleness, there is a vast body of known as staleness, there is a vast body of knowledge still unknown to researchers knowledge still unknown to researchers concerning the extent of this malady. concerning the extent of this malady.

Conclusion cont’d• Diagnosis is difficult , overtraining can be Diagnosis is difficult , overtraining can be

confused with fatigue due to a hard workout or confused with fatigue due to a hard workout or stress related symptoms, leading the athlete to stress related symptoms, leading the athlete to become frustrated with their performance and become frustrated with their performance and push himself or herself even harder. push himself or herself even harder.

• Consideration of symptoms in alerting the Consideration of symptoms in alerting the health care professional to overtraining in the health care professional to overtraining in the athlete should be made in conjunction with the athlete should be made in conjunction with the athlete’s own assessment of well-being .athlete’s own assessment of well-being .