Nonfunctional Overreaching
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Nonfunctional overreaching occurs when an athlete extends their training beyond their recovery capacity, leading to a state where performance declines without any subsequent gains, unlike functional overreaching which can lead to performance improvements after adequate rest. Nonfunctional overreaching can cause various symptoms including mood changes, lack of motivation, anxiety, depression, appetite changes, and significant performance declines. The only remedy is a serious period of rest and recovery 1 2.
highlights that nonfunctional overreaching typically takes weeks to recover from and does not provide any performance benefits. It often results from training volumes or intensities that are too high or lack of sufficient recovery. If not addressed, it can lead to overtraining, which requires even longer recovery periods 2 3.
Repeatedly pushing beyond functional overreaching without adequate rest or adjustments leads to a vicious cycle of decreased performance and further overtraining efforts without improvement. This can eventually result in true overtraining, which is a more severe condition taking months to recover from 4 5.
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