Psychological and immunological correlates of acute overtraining

• Published in: British journal of sports medicine Vol. 28; no. 4; pp. 241 - 246
• Main Authors: Fry, R W, Grove, J R, Morton, A R, Zeroni, P M, Gaudieri, S, Keast, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine 01.12.1994; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological; Adult; Affect - physiology; Blood Glucose - analysis; Cognition Disorders - physiopathology; Exercise Test; Fatigue - physiopathology; Feeding and Eating Disorders - physiopathology; Heart Rate - physiology; Humans; Immunity, Cellular - physiology; Interleukin-2 - blood; Irritable Mood - physiology; Lactates - blood; Male; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Physical Endurance - physiology; Psychomotor Performance - physiology; Running - physiology; Running - psychology; Sleep Wake Disorders - physiopathology; Stress, Physiological - physiopathology; Stress, Psychological - physiopathology
• ISSN: 0306-3674; 1473-0480
• DOI: 10.1136/bjsm.28.4.241

Five men undertook two intensive interval training sessions per day for 10 days, followed by 5 days of active recovery. Subjects supplied a venous blood sample and completed a mood-state questionnaire on days 1, 6, 11 and 16 of the study. Performance capabilities were assessed on days 1, 11 and 16 using a timed treadmill test to exhaustion at 18 kmh-1 and 1% grade. These individuals became acutely overtrained as indicated by significant reductions in running performance from day 1 to day 11. The overtrained state was accompanied by severe fatigue, immune system deficits, mood disturbance, physical complaints, sleep difficulties, and reduced appetite. Mood states moved toward baseline during recovery, but feelings of fatigue and immune system deficits persisted throughout the study.