Effects of 21 days of intensified training on markers of overtraining

J Strength Cond Res. 2010 Oct;24(10):2604-12. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181e8a4eb.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to impose a period of quantifiable intensified training to determine if commonly used diagnostic markers of overtraining parallel changes in physical performance and thus overtraining status. Eight trained male cyclists (24 ± 1 years, 71 ± 3 kg, VO2peak = 4.5 ± 0.1·L·min⁻¹) performed 21 days (3,211 km) of intensified training in the field where volume and intensity were increased over normal training. Salivary IgA, testosterone, and cortisol, 1-hour time trial performance, heart rate response, and profile of mood states (POMS) were collected and analyzed throughout the 21-day training period. The POMS category vigor declined from day 1 to day 4 and remained lower throughout (p < 0.05). There were no other statistical changes in overtraining parameters. However, individuals who demonstrated 2 or more symptoms of overtraining at any point throughout the 21 days were considered symptomatic and had a lower (p < 0.05) VO2peak (4.2 ± 0.1·vs. 4.7 ± 0.1 L·min⁻¹) and lower (p < 0.05) average workload during the initial 1-hour time trial (253 ± 5 vs. 288 ± 14 W). Interestingly, the 1-hour time trial power in these individuals with symptoms of overtraining did not decline (p > 0.05). These data demonstrate that markers of overtraining do not parallel a decrease in performance and should be interpreted with caution.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Affect / physiology
  • Bicycling / physiology
  • Bicycling / psychology
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Cumulative Trauma Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Cumulative Trauma Disorders / psychology
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Exercise / psychology
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / analysis
  • Hydrocortisone / physiology
  • Immunoglobulin A / analysis
  • Male
  • Oxygen Consumption / physiology
  • Saliva / chemistry
  • Saliva / physiology
  • Testosterone / analysis
  • Testosterone / physiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Testosterone
  • Hydrocortisone