Monitoring Changes in Performance, Physiology, Biochemistry, and Psychology during Overreaching and Recovery in Triathletes

Abstract

The present investigation compared responses in previously identified physiological, biochemical, and psychological markers of overreaching in triathletes. Sixteen experienced male triathletes (.VO(2max) [mean +/- SD] = 55.7 +/- 4.9 mL . kg (-1) . min (-1), age = 31.3 +/- 11.7 yr) were divided into matched groups according to physical and performance characteristics, and were randomly assigned to either intensified training (IT) or normal training (NT) groups. Physiological, biochemical, and psychological measures were taken at baseline, following four weeks of overload training and following a two-week taper. The IT group completed 290 % greater physical training load than the NT group during the overload period. The subjects completed a 3-km run time trial (3-km RTT) each week in order to assess the time course of change in endurance performance. 3-km RTT performance was significantly reduced (3.7 +/- 7.5 %; p < 0.05) following four weeks of overload training in the IT group confirming a state of overreaching. During the same period, 3-km RTT performance significantly improved in the NT group (3.0 +/- 1.1 %; p < 0.05). Following the two-week taper, 3-km RTT performance significantly improved in the IT group (7.0 +/- 5.6 %; p < 0.05). Hemoglobin concentration significantly decreased and urea increased in both groups during the overload period (p < 0.05). During the taper hemoglobin normalized with a greater increase in the IT group compared to the NT group (p < 0.05). A significant increase in free testosterone to cortisol ratio was also observed in the IT group compared to the NT group during the taper (p < 0.05). No significant changes were observed for any other biochemical variables during the period of investigation. The RESTQ-76 Sport questionnaire showed an impaired recovery-stress state with increased training load, which improved following the taper in the IT group (p < 0.05). These present results suggest that none of the physiological and biochemical variables measured in this study were effective for the early identification of overreaching in experienced triathletes. However, the RESTQ-76 Sport questionnaire may provide a practical tool for recognizing overreaching in its early stages. These findings have implications for monitoring training status in athletes in a practical training setting.

Análise dos sintomas de overtraining durante os períodos de treinamento e recuperação: estudo de caso de uma equipe feminina da Superliga de Voleibol 2003/2004

“…Unsatisfactory sleep perception may be related to perception of the somatic relaxing, which has not reached satisfactory indices in the training period either. Once the training load was placed, higher stress levels and/or lower recovery levels were expected (16,17,19,20) . German elite rowers in preparation for the Olympic Games demonstrated a correlation between training volume (indicated by the number of daily intense training minutes) and the subjective evaluation of the stress and recovery physical components (19) .…”

“…One of the most used variables in the monitoring of sports training programs, especially in high load phases (15) , is the stress and recovery perception through the recovery-stress questionnaire for athletes (RESTQ-Sport) (11,16,17) . This variable has been mainly used in studies which investigate the correlation between different training loads and their effect on the psychological status in athletes of different sports modalities (16)(17)(18)(19)(20) .…”

“…This variable has been mainly used in studies which investigate the correlation between different training loads and their effect on the psychological status in athletes of different sports modalities (16)(17)(18)(19)(20) . Thus, the aim of the present study was to monitor the stress and recovery levels of a high-performance women's volleyball team during a national competition.…”

Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the overtraining syndrome: Joint consensus statement of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)

“…Tests of high-intensity exercise performance may be appropriate in some sports. For example, isokinetic strength and power were shown to be decreased in 7 overreached rugby players (Coutts et al 2007b), but increased after one week of taper. Problems with performance testing -Baseline measures are often not available and therefore, the degree of performance limitation may not be exactly determined.…”

Cargas elevadas de treinamento alteram funções cognitivas em jogadores de futebol

“…A maioria dos estudos que utilizaram o RESTQ-Sport para medir os níveis de estresse e recuperação ao longo de temporadas esportivas e de períodos específicos do treinamento encontra alterações significativas nos estados de estresse e recuperação em diferentes períodos de treinamento 5,7,8,11,12,20,21 . Essas alterações, por sua vez, normalmente, assumem uma característica de dose-resposta em relação às cargas de treinamento.…”