Abstract des Autors

Three middle distance runners (three men) and 12 rowers (four women and eight men), involved in high performance sport at national and international levels, undertook performance, physiological, biochemical, and haematological test batteries specific to their respective sports at six weekly intervals throughout a 6-month training period leading up to the major events on their annual calenders. Thirteen of the 15 athletes involved in this study experienced performance improvements over the course of the training season. These improvements were associated with increased blood bicarbonate concentrations in the men rowers and runners as well as increased maximal oxygen consumption, decreased skinfold thicknesses, and decreased body mass in the runners. Three subjects appeared to become overtrained as indicated by their performance times. However, few of the biological parameters previously associated with overtraining became altered from baseline levels. The data presented is of clinical relevance; it indicates that overtraining may be experienced by an athlete without its presence being reflected by the biological parameters measured in this study. In addition, it is necessary to consider the training programme structure and previous training when attempting to diagnose an overtrained condition. Verf.-Referat