Functional overreaching is defined as short term performace decrement without severe negative psychological or physiological symptoms. When the imbalance between training and recovery continues, non functional overreaching (NFOR) may occur. The distinction between NFOR and Overtraining syndrome (OTS) is very narrow, and occurs mostly on exclusion criteria (Meeusen et al. 2006). Although many markers have been proven to identify OTS, prevention remains the most important issue and training diaries with subjective perception of fatigue have been proven to be useful (Piacentini et al 2008). The purpose of the present study was to evaluate psychological, training diary data and blood analysis in an athlete with NFOR. Methods A female marathon runner (30 yrs) was followed for 2 years by means of a daily online training diary (BLITS®?), a weekly POMS, monthly blood analysis. She filled in the task and Ego Orientation in Sport questionnaire (TEOSQ Duda 1989). In one year she ran 6 marathons. The last 2 ran 3 weeks apart were prepared doubling training volume and she was diagnosed as NFOR. The training diary consists of 3 pages that include both objective and subjective data (muscle soreness, physical and mental well-being, training intensity and attractiveness) reported on a 10 cm visual analogue scale (VAS). Furthermore, parameters that quantify and summarize training and adaptation to training were calculated, such as training load (training intensity VASxduration), monotony of training (day by day variability in training), and the overall strain (Load x monotony). Moreover, we calculated a parameter (BLITS formula) that takes into account the subjective parameters collected from the diary: time x intensity x attractiveness x muscle soreness x mental well being RESULTS Tha data analysed regard the period november-december 2007 when the athlete was diagnosed as NFOR. Her POMS data showed a significant increase in fatigue, depression and decrease in vigour. Blood analysis showed anemia with a 14% decrease in red blood cells, a 30% decrease in hemoglobin, and a 25% decrease in hematocrit and she reported interrumption of her menstrual cycle. Results from the training diary show a 1617% increase in the BLITS formula data during the NFOR period while only an 86% increase in strain. All parameters restored after 3 months. Her TEOSQ shows that she is more task (3,8) than ego (3,16) oriented. DISCUSSION The results demonstrate that prior to performance decrements (marathon race perfomance) due to excessive load (given also by her high task orientation), training diary parameters detected with the BLITS formula are the most visible predictors of extreme fatigue, and strongly correlated with negative mood. Therefore, the use of the online training diary seems a valuble tool for training monitoring and prevention of OTS REFERENCES Meeusen et al. EJSS 6:1-14, 2006 Piacentini et al ECSS 2008 Duda J of Sport and Exerc Psychol 11, 318-335
© Copyright 2009 14th annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, Oslo/Norway, June 24-27, 2009, Book of Abstracts. Veröffentlicht von The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.