Original paper
Practical tests for monitoring performance, fatigue and recovery in triathletes

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2007.02.007Get rights and content

Summary

Few studies have described simple tests which can be used to provide an early warning of overreaching. The purpose of this study was to examine selected practical tests for monitoring changes in performance, fatigue and recovery of endurance athletes. Sixteen male triathletes were randomly assigned into matched groups. The normal training (NT) and intensified training (IT) groups completed 4 weeks of training followed by a 2-week taper. Physiological measures were taken pre- and post-overload and post-taper periods during an incremental treadmill test to exhaustion. Performance was assessed weekly using a 3-km run time trial (3 kmTT). Five-bound jump for distance (5BT) and submaximal running heart rate (HRsubmax) test were measured twice weekly and the Daily Analyses of Life Demands for Athletes (DALDA) were recorded. During the overload training period, the IT group completed ∼290% more training load than the NT group (p < 0.001). After the overload training period, 3 kmTT in the IT group was reduced compared to both pre-training (3.7%, p < 0.05) and the NT group (6.8%, p < 0.05). 5BT was decreased by 7.9% in the IT group following the overload period (p < 0.05). The IT group also demonstrated increases in stress reaction symptoms from the DALDA. Following the taper, the IT group improved 3 kmTT. In contrast, the performance, physiological and psychological markers of NT group remained relatively unchanged throughout the 6-week training period. There were weak significant correlations between weekly changes in 3 kmTT and 5BT (r = −0.37, p < 0.01). The DALDA and 5BT may be practical tests for assessing changes in performance, fatigue and recovery of endurance athletes.

Introduction

It is well established that an appropriately designed training plan can improve athletic performance.1 However, when increased intensive physical training is completed without sufficient recovery periods, fatigue may accumulate resulting in a reduced performance capacity.2 These periods of intensified training can lead to either functional (short-term) overreaching, non-functional (extreme) overreaching or in severe cases, to the Overtraining Syndrome.3

Deliberate functional overreaching is common in many physical training programs and is considered by many coaches to be part of the normal training process for athletes.3 Indeed, some studies have shown that functional overreaching may lead to enhanced performance when appropriate recovery or taper periods follow the intensified training.4 However, if athletes continue to train intensively during functional overreaching, non-functional overreaching or even the Overtraining Syndrome can manifest. During non-functional overreaching, an athlete may present with a range of symptoms (e.g., hormonal dysregulation, psychological disturbances, reduced immune function, sleep disorders) and require weeks or months to restore performance capacity.3 The symptoms for the more serious of these conditions, the Overtraining Syndrome, are the same as for non-functional overreaching with the delineation between these conditions being made on the basis of the length of time taken to recover.

The challenge for coaches and athletes is to determine the point at which training becomes maladaptive. The result of intensified training is difficult to predict because each individual athlete's response to overreaching can be variable.5 Therefore, accurate athlete monitoring during the training process may assist in the prevention of non-functional overreaching and the Overtraining Syndrome.

Various theories have emerged which propose that overreached/overtrained athletes have a dysregulation of either the metabolic, hormonal, physiological and/or immunological systems.5, 6, 7, 8, 9 However, there is still no consensus regarding simple tests which can be used to provide an early warning of impending non-functional overreaching or the Overtraining Syndrome. Currently, the only reliable method of diagnosis is through a decrease in performance.2 Therefore, instead of investigating the cause of overreaching, this study will examine the usefulness of several practical tests to monitor changes in running performance for use as possible indicators of the performance decrements associated with overreaching.

Section snippets

Subjects

Sixteen experienced male triathletes volunteered to participate in this study. The subjects’ physical characteristics are shown in Table 2. All participants had regularly competed in triathlon for at least 3 years, performing more than six triathlons per year and training a minimum of 8 h week−1. Ten subjects had competed at a national and international level for their respective age groups. Prior to the commencement of testing, subjects were informed of the purpose and the potential

Results

There were no differences between the IT and NT groups in age, height, V˙O2max and 3 kmTT prior to the commencement of the training period. However, differences were found between groups for body mass (p = 0.019) and Σ9 skinfolds (p = 0.018). The training loads for the IT and NT groups during the 6-week training period are shown in Table 1 and have been previously reported in detail.11 The IT group was observed to complete ∼290% (p < 0.001) greater training load than the NT group. This was due to an

Discussion

The ability to monitor acute changes in an athlete's performance may assist in the prevention of non-functional overreaching and the Overtraining Syndrome. However, regular maximal performance testing may be unduly fatiguing and impractical for most athletes. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the effectiveness of several simple tests to reflect changes in 3 kmTT running performance in endurance athletes undergoing either normal or intensified training loads.

The present study

Conclusion

In summary, the present results show that changes in DALDA and 5BT measures were associated with changes in 3 kmTT performance during periods of overreaching and following a taper. Although the strength of the correlations for these measures was low, we suggest that these simple tests may be useful non-fatiguing measures that can be used to monitor general changes in the fatigue and recovery states of endurance athletes. Future studies should examine the relationships between these practical

Practical applications

  • Psychological questionnaires, such as the Daily Analysis of Life Demands for Athletes, may be useful tools to identify athletes who are susceptible to non-functional overreaching.

  • The five-bound test may be a practical method to estimate changes in neuromuscular fatigue in athletes who complete substantial ‘on legs’ training.

  • It is difficult to distinguish between adapting and non-adapting athletes through changes in physiological measures such as V˙O2max, lactate threshold and heart rate.

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