1. Overtraining Dr. Noel McCaffrey
Lecturer, Centre for Sport Science and Health, DCU Medical Director, O’Neills Sports Medicine, UCD & DCU

2. overtraining the training / preparation challenge
what is the overtraining syndrome
do we understand the mechanism?
recognition
treatment and prevention

3. training areas Resistance Speed Endurance Skills Team play
choice of exercise
order of exercise
volume (sets x reps)
intensity (% rep max)
rest (between sets)
Speed
speed generation
repeat speed
Endurance
central adaptation
peripheral (sport specific) adaptation
cross training (injured)
Skills
technique repetition
Team play

4. the challenge
provide continuous training stimulus with adequate variety, recovery, progression to
facilitate optimum performance at the right time(s)
avoid OTS
minimise injury

5. the overtraining syndrome
a condition characterised by
 performance in training / competition (incl technical)
 effort required to deliver same performance
failure to show progression / improvement
despite maintained or increased training

6. overtraining process  overtraining syndrome
other words
staleness overwork
burnout chronic fatigue
overfatigue overstrain

7. inadequate recovery
Fitness Level
Session 1
Session 2
Session 3
Days

8. overload
training stimulus 
adequate recovery
training increase
(appropriate)
 performance
over-reaching
training stimulus 
inadequate recovery
repeated (+ ) training
 performance
rest
full recovery in 2-3weeks
overtraining
training stimulus 
inadequate recovery
repeated (+ ) training
 performance
no recovery with rest

9. prevalence of OT signs and symptoms of OT seen in
 60% distance runners over a career
 50% pro soccer players in a 5 month competitive season
33% basketball players in a 6 week training camp

10. common symptoms of OTS general fatigue malaise  energy (malaise)
 enthusiasm
 motivation
irritable / restless
anxious
appetite change
weight loss
depression
 focus / concentration

11. diagnostic difficulties
diagnosis of exclusion
different symptoms with
different individuals doing same same training
acute vs chronic  performance
 volume vs  intensity
sympathetic vs parasympathetic models
endurance vs ‘anaerobic’ overtraining

12. parasympathetic overtraining
volume overload (resistance or endurance)
 testosterone : cortisol ratio
fatigue
depression
apathy
 resting HR

13. sympathetic overtraining
intensity overload
insomnia
irritability
restlessness
 HR
 blood pressure

14. overuse injuries internal factors body mass biomechanics nutrition
technique
fatigue
external factors
training volume
training intensity
repetition
footwear
surface
equipment

15. what causes it? imbalance / mismatch training   recovery
exercise   exercise capacity
stress   stress tolerance

16. initiating events  volume / intensity of training
monotony of training
illness (disease / infection)
caloric restriction /  carbohydrate intake
iron deficiency
exercise-heat stress
personal / emotional problems
occupational stress

17. biological markers cardiorespiratory  blood constitiuents
 resting / max heart rate
VO2max
 heart rate / VO2 / VE during exercise
 basal metabolic rate
 infection
 blood constitiuents
haemoglobin / hematocrit
white cells
iron
blood lactate in submax / max exercise
testosterone / cortisol
catecholamines (resting / nocturnal)

18. immune system  upper respiratory tract infection in OR / OT athlethes
cause or effect?

19. causes of persistent fatigue and underperformance in sport
less common
dehydration
diabtees
eating disorders
hepatitis
hypothyroidism
postconcussion
substance abuse
lr resp tract infection
side effects of
meds / supplements
nutrition
 carbo / protein
common
caffeine withdrawal
allergies
ex-induced asthma
 sleep
 iron (+/- anaemia)
performance anxiety
infection
mononucleosis
upp. resp tract infection
OTS
mood disorder
anxiety / depression
rare
endocrine disease
 or  adrenal gland
heart disease
HIV
malabsorption
lung disease
malignancy
renal disease
neuromuscular disease

20. fatigue What is it Fatigue in illness viral illness anaemia
failure to generate or maintain desired exercise intensity
peripheral mechanism (fuel depletion)
central mechanisms ( brain serotonin)
core symptom of many illnesses
Fatigue in illness
viral illness
anaemia
hypothyroidism
hypoglycaemia
chronic fatigue syndrome
depression

21. OTS and Major Depression
general fatigue / malaise
 appetite
irritable / restless
 body weight
 motivation
interest / pleasure
 concentration
feeling hopeless / worthless
feeling sad
persistent physical symptoms that fail to respond
suicidal thoughts

22. Treatment and Prevention
 recovery days
periodise
 variety
ensure vol : intensity inverse relationship
avoid high intensity over prolonged period
in resistence sessions, avoid completing every set of every exercise in every session
avoid overworking one area
avoid excess eccentric work
? role for antidepressant medication