Absence of the predisposing factors and signs and symptoms usually associated with overreaching and overtraining in physical fitness centers

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of the well‐known predisposing factors and signs and symptoms usually associated with either overreaching or overtraining syndrome in physical fitness centers in São Paulo City, Brazil.METHOD:A questionnaire consisting of 13 question groups pertaining to either predisposing factors (1‐7) or signs and symptoms (8‐13) was given to 413 subjects. The general training schedule of the volunteers was characterized by workout sessions of 2.18 ± 0.04 h for a total of 11.0 ± 0.3 h/week for 33 ± 2 months independent of the type of exercise performed (walking, running, spinning, bodybuilding and stretching). A mean score was calculated ranging from 1 (completely absent) to 5 (severe) for each question group. A low occurrence was considered to be a question group score lower than 4, which was observed in all 13 question groups.RESULTS:The psychological evaluation by POMS Mood State Questionnaire indicated a normal non‐inverted iceberg. The hematological parameters, creatine kinase activity, cortisol, total testosterone and free testosterone concentrations were within the normal ranges for the majority of the volunteers selected for this analysis (n = 60).CONCLUSION:According to the questionnaire score analysis, no predisposing factors or signs and symptoms usually associated with either overreaching or overtraining were detected among the members of physical fitness centers in São Paulo City, Brazil. This observation was corroborated by the absence of any significant hematological or stress hormone level alterations in blood analyses of the majority of the selected volunteers (n = 60).

Mood and Oxytocin Blood Levels in Physically Active Women with and without Oral Contraceptive Use in Relation to Seasonal Daylight Variation

“…The POMS test was used in this study due to its feasibility in sport and exercise studies [33,38]. To identify if Oxytocin, which is related to different forms of positive social interactions and stress management [1] could be a marker of this dysfunction.…”

“…Biochemical analysis has been suggested as a way to be able to diagnose training stress and overtraining, but no suitable single test has been identified [25,28,31,38,42,43]. Oxytocin has been shown to increase directly after endurance running [22] and seems to have primarily parasympathetic actions such as slowing down the heart rate in trained individuals [23,24] a phenomenon related to training and overtraining syndrome [44].…”

“…FTCR is not by itself a suitable indicator for the anabolic/catabolic balance in females, since female free testosterone values are much lower compared to those of men and show a varying response over the season [37]. Thus, no single, specific, simple, and reliable parameter has been shown to diagnose overreaching and overtraining syndrome, and only small improvements have been made in recent years in developing tools suitable for diagnostics, especially for women [25,38]. So far impairment of physical performance and disturbed mood profile seem to be the most reliable markers for overtraining [38].…”

“…Thus, no single, specific, simple, and reliable parameter has been shown to diagnose overreaching and overtraining syndrome, and only small improvements have been made in recent years in developing tools suitable for diagnostics, especially for women [25,38]. So far impairment of physical performance and disturbed mood profile seem to be the most reliable markers for overtraining [38].…”

Impact of Season and Oral Contraceptive use on Cortisol Levelsin Physically Active Women

“…No single, specific, and reliable biological parameter to diagnose OR and OTS at an early stage has been found, and there has been only little improvement in recent years in developing tools suitable for diagnostics [1,22,30,45]. Hence, physicians and trainers are looking for new ways to diagnose and monitor athletes that may be at risk [1,28].…”