J Strength Cond Res. 2004 Feb;18(1):185-93.

Tissue trauma: the underlying cause of overtraining syndrome?

Source

Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa. smithl@techpta.ac.za

Abstract

An athlete who trains intensely, yet consistently underperforms, is considered to be suffering from overtraining syndrome (OTS). OTS is a complex state that involves a large variety of signs and symptoms. Symptoms include changes in mood or behaviour, decreases or increases in concentration of different blood molecules, and alterations in immune function. Although several hypotheses have been proposed, each only explains a selective aspect of OTS. Presently, the sole agreement is that OTS is associated with excessive training and insufficient rest and recovery. The hypothesis proposed in this paper suggests that excessive training/competing causes repetitive tissue trauma, either to muscle and/or connective tissue and/or to bony structures, and that this results in chronic inflammation. It is further proposed that traumatized tissue synthesizes a group of inflammatory molecules, cytokines. Cytokines have been shown to coordinate the different systems of the body to promote recovery. Suggestions are made to detect, prevent, and rehabilitate the overtrained athlete.

PMID:: 14971991; [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Publication Types, MeSH Terms, Substances

Publication Types

Review

MeSH Terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Other Literature Sources

Labome Researcher Resource - ExactAntigen/Labome

Medical

Exercise and Physical Fitness - MedlinePlus Health Information

Supplemental Content

Related citations

Cytokine hypothesis of overtraining: a physiological adaptation to excessive stress? [Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000]
Cytokine hypothesis of overtraining: a physiological adaptation to excessive stress?
Smith LL. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000 Feb; 32(2):317-31.
Review Overtraining, excessive exercise, and altered immunity: is this a T helper-1 versus T helper-2 lymphocyte response? [Sports Med. 2003]
Review Overtraining, excessive exercise, and altered immunity: is this a T helper-1 versus T helper-2 lymphocyte response?
Lakier Smith L. Sports Med. 2003; 33(5):347-64.
Review The overtraining syndrome in athletes: a stress-related disorder. [J Endocrinol Invest. 2004]
Review The overtraining syndrome in athletes: a stress-related disorder.
Angeli A, Minetto M, Dovio A, Paccotti P. J Endocrinol Invest. 2004 Jun; 27(6):603-12.
Review Special feature for the Olympics: effects of exercise on the immune system: overtraining effects on immunity and performance in athletes. [Immunol Cell Biol. 2000]
Review Special feature for the Olympics: effects of exercise on the immune system: overtraining effects on immunity and performance in athletes.
MacKinnon LT. Immunol Cell Biol. 2000 Oct; 78(5):502-9.
Review The emerging role of glutamine as an indicator of exercise stress and overtraining. [Sports Med. 1996]
Review The emerging role of glutamine as an indicator of exercise stress and overtraining.
Rowbottom DG, Keast D, Morton AR. Sports Med. 1996 Feb; 21(2):80-97.

See reviews... See all...

Cited by 3 PubMed Central articles

Absence of the predisposing factors and signs and symptoms usually associated with overreaching and overtraining in physical fitness centers. [Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2010]
Absence of the predisposing factors and signs and symptoms usually associated with overreaching and overtraining in physical fitness centers.
Ackel-D'Elia C, Vancini RL, Castelo A, Nouailhetas VL, Silva AC. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2010; 65(11):1161-6.
Stress and the neuroendocrine system: the role of exercise as a stressor and modifier of stress. [Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab. 2006]
Stress and the neuroendocrine system: the role of exercise as a stressor and modifier of stress.
Hackney AC. Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab. 2006 Nov 1; 1(6):783-792.
Inflammation and adipose tissue: effects of progressive load training in rats. [Lipids Health Dis. 2010]
Inflammation and adipose tissue: effects of progressive load training in rats.
Lira FS, Rosa JC, Pimentel GD, Tarini VA, Arida RM, Faloppa F, Alves ES, do Nascimento CO, Oyama LM, Seelaender M, et al. Lipids Health Dis. 2010 Oct 4; 9:109. Epub 2010 Oct 4.

Related information

Related Citations
Calculated set of PubMed citations closely related to the selected article(s) retrieved using a word weight algorithm. Related articles are displayed in ranked order from most to least relevant, with the “linked from” citation displayed first.
Substance (MeSH Keyword)
PubChem chemical substance (submitted) records that are classified under the same Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) controlled vocabulary as the current articles.
Cited in PMC
Full-text articles in the PubMed Central Database that cite the current articles.

Recent activity

Clear Turn Off Turn On

Tissue trauma: the underlying cause of overtraining syndrome?
Tissue trauma: the underlying cause of overtraining syndrome?
J Strength Cond Res. 2004 Feb ;18(1):185-93.

PubMed
The risk we bear: the effects of review speed and industry user fees on new drug...
The risk we bear: the effects of review speed and industry user fees on new drug safety.
J Health Econ. 2008 Mar ;27(2):175-200. Epub 2007 Nov 29 .

PubMed
Bilberry juice modulates plasma concentration of NF-kappaB related inflammatory ...
Bilberry juice modulates plasma concentration of NF-kappaB related inflammatory markers in subjects at increased risk of CVD.
Eur J Nutr. 2010 Sep ;49(6):345-55. Epub 2010 Feb 2 .

PubMed
Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) concentrations in cervical mucus o...
Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) concentrations in cervical mucus of women with normal menstrual cycle.
Mol Hum Reprod. 1999 Jul ;5(7):656-61.

PubMed
Community use of the amplatzer atrial septal defect occluder: results of the mul...
Community use of the amplatzer atrial septal defect occluder: results of the multicenter MAGIC atrial septal defect study.
Pediatr Cardiol. 2009 Apr ;30(3):240-7. Epub 2008 Nov 18 .

PubMed

Your browsing activity is empty.

Activity recording is turned off.

Turn recording back on

PubMed

Display Settings:

Send to: