A Systematic Review on Markers of Functional Overreaching in Endurance Athletes
in International Journal of Sports Physiology and PerformanceClick name to view affiliation
Purpose: The aim of this brief review was to present an overview of noninvasive markers in trained to professional endurance athletes that can reflect a state of functional overreaching. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO databases. After screening 380 articles, 12 research papers were included for the systematic review. Results: Good consensus was found between the different papers in which noninvasive parameters were able to reflect a state of functional overreaching. Changes in power output (PO), heart rate (HR; [sub]maximal and HR recovery), rating of perceived exertion, and scores in the Daily Analysis of Life Demands for Athletes (DALDA) and/or Profile of Mood States (POMS) were shown to be able to reflect functional overreaching, whereas changes in maximal oxygen uptake and HR-variability parameters were not. Conclusion: Functional overreaching within a maximal performance test was characterized by a decrease in peak PO and a lower maximum HR, whereas a lower mean PO and a lower HR were observed during time trials. Changes in parameters during a standardized submaximal test when functionally overreached were characterized by a higher PO at a fixed HR or a lower HR at a fixed intensity, higher rating of perceived exertion, and a faster HR recovery. Although both the DALDA and POMS were able to reflect functional overreaching, the POMS was not able to differentiate this response from acute fatigue, which makes it unsuitable for accurately monitoring functional overreaching.
Roete, Elferink-Gemser, and Stoter are with the Dept of Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands. Otter is with the School of Sport Studies, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, the Netherlands, and the Dept of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, Section Anatomy & Medical Physiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands. Stoter is also with Innovation Lab Thialf, Heerenveen, the Netherlands. Lamberts is with the Dept of Sport Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
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