Abstract des Autors

Different types of overtraining can be distinguished. Mechanical overtraining concerns the locomotory system and may be expressed as overuse injuries. Mechanical overload of skeletal muscle results in structural damage. Although plasma CK levels are often used as parameter for muscle overload, plasma CK activity does not always reflect the amount of muscle damage. Metabolic overtraining may occur with short intensive exercise. With high training volumes accumulation of ADP may occur, which results in activation of the myokinase reaction. The AMP resulting from this pathway is degraded, which may lead to depletion of energy rich phosphates. Uric acid can be used as parameter. With systemic overtraining the total amount of stress exceeds the stress tolerance and one may speak of overtraining syndrome. This results in a hypothalamic dysfunction, which is reflected in neuro-endocrine disorders and behavioural changes. Clinically the overtraining syndrome can be separated into a sympathetic and para-sympathetic form. To detect overtraining syndrome no simple diagnostic tests exist. Acute interruption of athletic activities may lead to a withdrawal syndrome, which has a great resemblance with the overtraining syndrome.