OVERTRAINING AND RECOVERY - A CONCEPTUAL-MODEL

Fiercer competition between athletes and a wider knowledge of optimal training regimens dramatically influence current training methods. A s ingle training bout per day was previously considered sufficient, wher eas today athletes regularly train twice a day or mon. Consequently, t he number of athletes who are overtraining and have insufficient rest is increasing. Positive overtraining can be regarded as a natural proc ess when the end result is adaptation and improved performance; the su percompensation principle which includes the breakdown process (traini ng) followed by the recovery process (rest)- is well known in sports. However, negative overtraining, causing maladaptation and other negati ve consequences such as staleness, can occur. Physiological, psycholog ical, biochemical and immunological symptoms must be considered, both independently and together, to fully understand the 'staleness' syndro me. However, psychological testing may reveal early-warning signs more readily than the various physiological or immunological markers. The time frame of training and recovery is also important since the conseq uences of negative overtraining comprise an overtraining-response cont inuum from short to long term effects. An athlete failing to recover w ithin 72 hours has presumably negatively overtrained and is in an over reached state. For an elite athlete to refrain from training for >72 h ours is extremely undesirable, highlighting the importance of a carefu lly monitored recovery process. There are many methods used to measure the training process but few with which to match the recovery process against it. One such framework for this is referred to as the total q uality recovery (TQR) process. By using a TQR scale, structured around the scale developed for ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), the reco very process can be monitored and matched against the breakdown (train ing) process (TQR versus RPE). The TQR scale emphasises both the athle te's perception of recovery and the importance of active measures to i mprove the recovery process. Furthermore, directing attention to psych ophysiological cues serves the same purpose as in RPE, i.e. increasing self-awareness. This article reviews and conceptualises the whole ove rtraining process. In doing so, it (i) aims to differentiate between t he types of stress affecting an athlete's performance; (ii) identifies factors influencing an athlete's ability to adapt to physical trainin g; (iii) structures the recovery process. The TQR method to facilitate monitoring of the recovery process is then suggested and a conceptual model that incorporates all of the important parameters for performan ce gain (adaptation) and loss (maladaptation).