Physiological Symptoms of Overtraining
Muscle/joint tenderness, tiredness, Decreased performance
tightness
Increased rate of overuse injuries Insomnia/disturbed sleep patterns
Body weight loss Nausea
Decreased appetite Allergic reactions
Elevated heart rate and blood Head colds/persistent URTI
pressure
Training fatigue/lethargy Higher lactate concentrations at
any given workload
Changes in menstrual pattern Decreased neural initiation of
motor movements/decreased
coordination
Decreased heart rate at a given Decreased strength
level of running intensity (by about
5 beats/minute)
Decreased maximal heart rate Decreased muscle glycogen levels
Theories of Overtraining
What does science have to tell us about overtraining? Recent research suggests it's a neuroendocrine disorder, primarily affecting the nervous and endocrine systems, which seems to match up well with the symptoms. Other theories are that it's caused by excessive trauma to the muscle cells without adequate healing. This "catabolic-anabolic imbalance" theory holds that the overtrained body is dominated by a catabolic (or breaking-down) state instead of an anabolic state, during which the body regenerates itself.
Systems Affected by Overtraining
The multiple signs and symptoms of overtraining particularly affect the musculoskeletal, immune, endocrine, cardiovascular, and nervous systems. The symptoms appear to be exacerbated by external stressors such as lack of sleep, jet lag, ongoing illness, work-related stress, poor nutrition, menstruation, etc.
The magnitude of the effects of overtraining on the hormonal system cannot be overemphasized. Here's why: The body releases stress hormones such as adrenaline (epinephrine) when you exercise, to increase heart rate, shunt blood to working muscles, release glucose into the bloodstream, and stimulate fat metabolism so you can burn more fat. Overtraining causes an abnormal response in the autonomic nervous system through the excess production of adrenaline--which in turn suppresses the body's production of serotonin and dopamine (hormones that have a calming effect), causing us to experience the symptoms of depression and anxiousness seen in the table below.
Effects of Overtraining on the Autonomic Nervous System
Irritability/moodiness Emotional instability
Depression Elevated basal metabolic rate
Lack of enthusiasm for training Anxiousness
Lack of concentration Palpitations
If these symptoms don't get your attention, here are two that will: 1.) diminished sex drive and sexual performance, and 2.) fear of training.
i have trained every day and sometime 2 times a day and i have overtrained for monthes during the winter insomnia and depression have hit me hard 3 times now then you take 2 weeks off and you feel normal again it really creeps up on you. you do not know then its there be carefull when training daily