Overtraining syndrome

Overtraining syndrome (OTS) occurs in athletes when intensity of training exceeds the body's ability to recover. It is common in nearly every sport and fitness activity. Ashley Crossman, for Active.com, writes: "The most common causes of overtraining are quick increases in frequency, intensity, or duration of training sessions, or a combination without the necessary recovery."

Overtraining syndrome vs ME/CFS
Overtraining syndrome is marked with prolonged fatigue which can result in it being diagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), as there are no laboratory tests to confirm.

Joe Friel, endurance sports coach, notes in Training Peaks the similarity of OTS and other diseases including CFS:


 * "You’ll be in the early stages of the overtraining syndrome. That will be marked by symptoms like:


 * relentless fatigue
 * poor training performance
 * lethargy
 * low motivation
 * bad attitude about life in general


 * If you keep pushing it beyond this fatigue you’re likely to experience full-blown overtraining which is similar to having a disease such as mononucleosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, or Lyme disease. It isn’t pretty. And it may take you weeks if not months to shed the overtraining symptoms."

There have been media reports of athletes diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or CFS who have recovered in a relatively short period of time after rest, supplementation, and diet changes.

Physiological

 * Altered resting heart rate and blood pressure
 * Back, knee, ankle, and foot injuries
 * Chronic fatigue
 * Decreased efficiency of movement and physical performance
 * Decreased lactate response
 * Decreased maximum work capacity
 * Frequent nausea/gastrointestinal upsets
 * Headaches
 * Hormone imbalance includes elevations of cortisol with secondary lowering of testosterone and DHEA levels
 * Impaired muscular strength
 * Inability to meet previously attained performance standards or criteria
 * Increased frequency of respiration
 * Insatiable thirst
 * Insomnia
 * Joint aches and pains
 * Lack of appetite
 * Lethargy
 * Low motivation
 * Lower percent of body fat
 * Premenstrual syndrome and menopausal symptoms may be secondary complaints for women, but amenorrhea (menstrual disruptions) is a common problem
 * Mental and emotional stress, including mild or clinical depression and anxiety is not uncommon.
 * Muscle soreness and tenderness
 * Prolonged recovery from exercise
 * Reappearance of previously corrected mistakes
 * Sexual dysfunction may be a problem for both sexes, typically producing reduced sexual desire and sometimes infertility

Psychological

 * Bad attitude about life in general
 * Changes in personality
 * Decreased self-esteem and motivation to workout
 * Depression
 * Difficulty concentrating during work, school, or training
 * Easily distracted during tasks
 * Emotional instability
 * Fear of competition
 * Feelings of sadness and depression
 * General apathy
 * “Giving up” when the going gets tough
 * Mood changes

Syndrome recognition

 * Oct 19, 2011, The Tired Athlete: Understanding Fatigue and Recovery by Joe Friel via Trainingpeaks


 * May 6, 2015, The overtraining syndrome by Dr. Phil Maffetone via MAF


 * Overtraining: Undermining Success? by Paige Kinucan and Kravitz, PhD. via University of New Mexico


 * Overtraining: its effects on performance and psychological state via Exercise Med


 * Overtraining Can Kill You: The 3 Stages of Overtraining, Part 1 by Andrew Read via Breaking Muscle


 * Overtraining Can Kill You: The 3 Stages of Overtraining, Part 2 by Andrew Read via Breaking Muscle

Notable research

 * 2004, Does overtraining exist? An analysis of overreaching and overtraining research.


 * 2005, Reversal in fatigued athletes of a defect in interferon γ secretion after administration of Lactobacillus acidophilus


 * 2012, Overtraining Syndrome - A Practical Guide

Learn more
"The United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued a draft report that highlights the dire need for scientific research that will help find a cure for the millions of people suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) worldwide. The report also highlights the fact that the decades-old UK Royal Society of Medicine’s Oxford criteria for ME/CFS are severely “flawed,” and that continuing to use these criteria may “cause harm.” Further, the NIH report says that the Royal Society definition should “be retired” and replaced with a single case definition agreed to by the ME/CFS community."
 * 2015, US NIH Report Calls for UK Definition of ME/CFS to be Scrapped (Oxford criteria)