Overtraining is an easy pitfall for dedicated athletes and driven fitness enthusiasts. It can also be a setback that may lead to muscle loss and injury. Knowing the three warning signs of overtraining can save your mind and body from unnecessary stress.
Decreased Performance:
A clear indicator that you've been pushing yourself too hard or working out too often is decreased athletic performance. When you're not able to lift the same weight or pump out the same amount of repetitions, you're body may be trying to tell you it hasn't recovered from the last session or sessions.
Increased Muscle Soreness:
Even the most well conditioned athletes get sore after an intense workout, but a deep muscle sore may indicate that the body has not had enough time to rest and heal properly. This may also be the case if you are sore for a longer period of time than you normally would be. “If the entire system (body) has been pushed too hard too many times without sufficient recovery, we have entered into either overreaching or overtraining, which can take weeks to recover.” says Dr. Joseph Horrigan.
Fatigue:
If you're constantly feeling tired and struggling to find motivation and focus in the gym, it's time to listen to your body and give it a rest. Reaching a state of burnout means you've gone beyond the limit your body is able to handle and it needs time to recuperate; pushing through and continuing at the same intensity or frequency will do no good.
About the author
discmdgroup DISC Sports & Spine Center (DISC) is a national leader in minimally invasive spine surgery, orthopedic surgery, and sports medicine care. Our spine surgeons set the standard in artificial disc replacement, spine fusion, discectomy, microdiscectomy and the full spectrum of spine procedures. The group’s orthopedic surgeons advance the state of joint preservation surgery and total joint replacement, including total knee replacement as well as total hip replacement. Our flagship surgery centers based in Newport Beach, Marina del Rey, and Carlsbad serve patients local to Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego, as well as the rest of the country. Read more articles by discmdgroup.
