No Pain No Gain?

Why Prevention Rather than Treatment of Over-training is More Beneficial to Long Distance Runners  

An athlete who is believed to be suffering from over-training syndrome has only one treatment option. Stop training or decrease it significantly for an extended period of time (Wilmore, Costill, & Kenney, 2008).  For an athlete whose main goal is to reach their optimal performance level, this change in training may cause some issues.  For instance, an athlete may become confused if they are under the impression that the harder they work the better they will become.  Also, an athlete could become bored because they are unaware of what to do if they cannot train.  This boredom could lead to depression because they may see each day they do not train as another step away from their performance goal.   With this being said perhaps the focus should be more on preventing overtraining syndrome as opposed to treating it 

According to a 2006 study on treating overtraining syndrome little can be done once overtraining is diagnosed (Meeusen et al., 2006).  Therefore, a compilation of possible preventative steps one can take to prevent overtraining syndrome will be studied.  To begin, periodization training will be examined.  Through periodization training an athlete’s training is precisely rotated between hard, medium, and easy phases (Wilmore et al., 2008).  When done correctly periodization should allow an athlete to push themselves out of their comfort zone, but not to the point of overtraining. 

Current and Past Literature on Overtraining 

Once the idea of “more is better”, became a method of training, so did the issue of overtraining.  Coaches who followed this philosophy began to see their athlete’s times improve causing them to push the athlete even harder (Wilmore et al., 2008) However, an athlete can only handle so much before he or she stops adapting and begins to breakdown.  One might think that the harder one trains the better they will become, but there is a limit to this method.  When this idea is taken to far overtraining may occur and the consequences can be dire for an athlete. 

Periodization 

Currently, the majority of the research done on excessive training has been done on swimmers (Wilmore et al., 2008).  However, the results can be applied to other sports.  Because long term excessive training can lead to overtraining syndrome it is important to understand what is excessive.  For example, it has been the conclusion of many studies that there are no significant differences in performance between athletes with normal training volumes and those with twice that (Wilmore et al., 2008).  This data suggests that training at higher volumes may only increase one’s chances of overtraining.  Furthermore, performing high intensity training for too long can also lead to overtraining syndrome.

However, for athletes to improve they must overload themselves or push themselves beyond their normal level, while incorporating recovery time as well (Meeusen et al., 2006).  The process of overreaching is similar to overloading because it involves the deliberate increase in training followed by significant rest (Wilmore et al., 2008).  If done right, overreaching can result in a brief decrease in performances and then an increase in performance after time for recovery is allotted.  If overreaching is prolonged for too long or insufficient recovery is given, overreaching becomes overtraining (Meeusen et al., 2006).

A good way to help prevent overtraining from taking place is to follow a periodized program.  A periodization program will gradually cycle between training specificity, volume and intensity to achieve an optimal level of performance (Wilmore et al., 2008).  A periodization program is often made up of one macrocylce, which is equal to one year.  The macrocylce is then broken down into mesocycles, which last about twelve weeks and consist of a preparation, precompetition, competition, and active rest period (Wilmore et al., 2008).  Through the variation of intensity and volume of different specific exercises periodization may help prevent overtraining (Wilmore et al., 2008). 

Nutrition 

A weak immune system could be a potential important factor in the development of overtraining syndrome (Wilmore et al., 2008).  Eating foods that promote a healthy immune system could, therefore help prevent overtraining syndrome.   Foods like leafy greens, fruits, and certain nuts have all been found to improve immune functioning (Fuhrman & Ferreri, 2010).  In addition research suggests that athletes who eat a whole foods plant based diet and avoid processed foods and meat are less likely to suffer immune dysfunction.

Eating a plant based whole foods diet may also help in recovery.  For example, foods can either be high-net-gain or low net-gain.  High-net-gain foods are good because they provide the body with energy even after digestion has taken place (Brazier, 2007).  This extra energy can be used for performance or recovery depending on where it is needed.  High-net-gain foods include pseudograins, leafy vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, and beans.  Low-net-gain foods include processed foods like cereal, white bread, and refined sugar as well as meats.

One important element found in plants that can help with recovery and performance is chlorophyll.  Chlorophyll is like a plants blood and when consumed it helps remove toxins, aids in cell regeneration, improves the flow of oxygen, and decreases recovery time (Brazier, 2007).  In other words a person’s body does not have to use as much energy to fight off toxins, rebuild cells, transport oxygen, and recover from exercise.  Vegetables like dinosaur kale, spinach, bok choy, red leaf lettuce, and butter lettuce to name a few are packed with chlorophyll.

Also foods that are alkaline or base forming will also aid in recovery because an athlete’s body will not have to use as much energy to maintain homeostasis.  Foods like meats, refined sugars and flours, processed foods, and dairy are all acid forming.  Foods like these along with stress increase the acidic level of one’s body and force it to work hard to maintain homeostasis (Brazier, 2007).  If one eats plant based whole foods that are alkaline forming the energy that would have been used for maintenance can instead be used for recovery.

Lastly, according to the book, Thrive the vegan nutrition guide to optimal performance in sports and life, there are certain next-level foods that can aid in performance, recovery, and hormone balance.  One of these foods is Chlorella. This is a green algae that is able to quadruple itself every 24 hours and contains more chlorophyll and nucleic acid than any other known plant (Brazier, 2007).   Chlorella provides large amounts of vitamins and minerals including B-12, nineteen amino acids (all ten of the essential ones), speeds up recovery time, and is an easy protein for the body to digest (Brazier, 2007). A second next level food is maca. Maca is a Peruvian root that has the ability to prevent stress and maintain hormonal balance (Brazier, 2007).  Maca is also rich in sterols a compound that helps the body regenerate fatigued muscle tissue quickly (Brazier, 2007).  One final next level food is white chia. This small seed is loaded with omega-3, protein, antioxidants, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and iron making it a natural recovery food as well as a great way to replenish mineral lost while working out (Brazier, 2007).

Muscle-to-Mind Relaxation 

Before discussing relaxation techniques one must know the underlying factor in them is zero-activation.  Zero-activation is a state in which the body has reached complete relaxation.  In this state an athlete is more aware of muscle tension and therefore, is able to relieve it (Williams, 2010).  Also, complete relaxation can help aid in fatigue as well as regeneration of mental physical and emotional states (Williams, 2010).  This may be helpful because overtraining syndrome has been described as a sudden decrease in performance after a period of intense training or emotional distress (Saremi, 2009).  In other words being in control one’s physical, mental, emotional stress may help an athlete recognize overtraining before it happens.

One well known, yet often misused muscle-to-mind relaxation technique is complete breathing.  Most people breathe from their chest when trying to relax, but instead they should be breathing from their abdomen.  Breathing from the abdomen not only promotes relaxation it increase the amount of oxygen in the blood, thus providing more energy to the muscles (Williams, 2010).  Because an increase in oxygen rich blood is needed to sustain an athlete who is training hard complete breathing could slow the onset of muscle fatigue.

Another type of mind-to-muscle strategies is progressive relaxation.  Progressive relaxation involves the tensing and relaxing of each muscle in the body individually.  The tensing of the muscles teaches the athlete to recognize what muscle tension feels like.  The relaxing of the muscles teaches an athlete what the absence of tension feels like (Williams, 2010).  With practice an athlete can become efficient at recognizing and releasing the tension in their muscles almost automatically while exercising.   This skill may also help in preventing overtraining because if an athlete is constantly releasing tension it cannot build up resulting in poor recovery followed by overtraining. 

Conclusion 

 It is suggested that it may be more beneficial for athletes to avoid overtraining altogether.  A major reason for this belief maybe the fact that stopping or decreasing training is the only way to cure overtraining syndrome.  This might be very hard for an athlete who wants to reach their optimal performance level and thinks hard training is the way to accomplish this.  However, the belief that more is better can often be taken too far and result in over training syndrome.

If an athlete wants to continue to push themselves to the next level they must do it correctly.  To begin, the proposed study suggests that an athlete needs to first understand the importance of hard and easy days.  For example, if they push themselves too hard for too long, without recovery the result could be overtraining syndrome. Next, they need to understand how proper nutrition can enhance their performance.  For instance, eating plants and whole foods that give the body energy and reduce recovery time should help an athlete avoid overtraining syndrome.  Lastly, an athlete that can learn to better recognize and relieve muscle tension may be able to predict the onset of overtraining syndrome before it happens. 

References

Brazier, B. (2007). Thrive the vegan nutrition guide to optimal performance in sports and life. Canada: Penguin Group.

Fuhrman, J. & Ferreri D. M. (2010) Fueling the Vegetarian (Vegan) Athlete. Current Sports Medicine Reports, 9(4), 233-241. 

Meeusen, R., Duclos, M., Gleeson, M., Rietjens, G., Steinacker, J., & Urhausen, A. (2006). Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of overtraining syndrome. European Journal of Sports Science, 6(1), 1-14. 

Saremi, J. (2009). Overtraining syndrome. American Fitness, 27(1), 10-16.

Williams, J. M. (2010). Applied sport psychology: Personal growth to peak performance (6^th ed.) New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Wilmore, J. H., Costill, D. L., & Kenney, W. L. (2008). Physiology of sport exercise (4^th ed.) Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.