Exercise OvertrainingNCT06295016
Stressors and Recovery Regulation on the Super-compensation Effect
A study testing High-intensity intensive training and Taper in people with Exercise Overtraining and Stressor, Psychological, run by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University at 1 site in Taiwan.
Trial summary
Purpose: Investigating the effects of stressors and recovery regulation on the super-compensation effect of high-intensity intensive training (IT) in endurance athletes. Methods: This study will recruit 176 competitively trained endurance adult athletes. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 50 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Exercise Overtraining, Stressor, Psychological
- What is being tested?
- High-intensity intensive training and Taper
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 158 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTaiwan
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2023to 31 Aug 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 50 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Athletes aged 18 or above with endurance-type competitive sports experience. For instance, athletes who have participated in track events of 400 meters or longer, marathons, road cycling, swimming, rowing, race walking, triathlons, orienteering, and similar competitive events.
- A habitual training regimen of at least 6 hours per week. For instance, training three times a week for at least 2 hours each session.
- Minimum of 3 years of training experience, such as being part of a school team or a specialized athlete.
- No severe injuries within the past year. For instance, severe non-regenerative anemia, craniotomy due to cerebral aneurysm, acute myocardial infarction, severe hepatic cirrhosis, severe systemic lupus erythematosus nephritis, severe rheumatoid arthritis, severe head trauma, and similar conditions.
- Not taking substances affecting athletic, physiological, and psychological performance. For instance, unauthorized drugs, prohibited substances, growth hormones like somatotropin and related substances, β2 agonists, hormone and metabolic modulators, diuretics, masking agents, stimulants, anesthetics, cannabis, adrenal corticosteroids, and similar substances.
Who cannot join
- Presence of an illness resembling symptoms of overtraining syndrome in the week before the start of the experiment. This includes primary viral illnesses, bacterial infections, associated inflammatory diseases, diabetes, or hyperthyroidism.
- Suspected symptoms of high-risk overtraining syndrome in the week preceding the experiment, such as persistent fatigue or exhaustion, unexplained significant decrease in athletic performance exceeding 10%.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Taiwan1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
Taipei, 112304
Wei-Wun Tsai, +886-02-2826-7939, tmwk@nycu.edu.tw
About this study
Official title: Influence of Stressors and Recovery Regulation on the Super-compensation Effect of Endurance Athletes After High-intensity Intensive Training
Purpose: Investigating the effects of stressors and recovery regulation on the super-compensation effect of high-intensity intensive training (IT) in endurance athletes. Methods: This study will recruit 176 competitively trained endurance adult athletes. Participants will conduct a 7-week 3-stage experiment, including 3 weeks of regular training, 3 weeks of 130% progressive IT, and 1 week of 55% taper. Measurement will include training responses (performance and fatigue symptoms), stressors, recovery regulation, and mood state at baseline, during and after regular training, IT, and taper separately. According to the performance after taper, all participants will category into either the responder or non-responder of well-response to supercompensation effect. Statistic analysis: Independent t-test, Chi-squared test, and binary logistic regression will be used to compare the difference in training responses, stressors, recovery regulation, and mood state characteristics between responder and non-responder groups. P value sets at 0.15 for identifying the potential predictors. Logistic stepwise multiple regression will be used further to determine the significant predictors for the responders of well-response to the super-compensation among endurance athletes. P value sets at 0.05.
Read the detailed description
- Research problems and motivation: (1) Research problems: Currently, the primary challenge in sports training monitoring resides in the disparity of responses among athletes to identical high-intensity, high-volume training stimuli (e.g., total distance, frequency, intensity, workload) (Aubry et al., 2015; Aubry et al., 2014; Bellinger, 2020; Le Meur et al., 2014; Le Meur et al., 2013). Despite the widespread dissemination of preventative strategies for overtraining syndrome among coaches and athletes in current sports science research, non-functional overreaching and overtraining syndrome continue to exhibit a prevalence of approximately 19% to 30% in recent years. (2) Research motivation: Recent studies have found that following high-intensity, high-volume training, approximately 45.5% to 100% of individuals are categorized as athletes who fail to recover and show poor responses adequately (Aubry et al., 2015; Aubry et al., 2014; Bellenger, Karavirta, et al., 2016; Bellenger et al., 2017; Bellinger, 2020; Fuller et al., 2017; Le Meur et al., 2013; Woods et al., 2018). This phenomenon may be influenced by factors such as inadequate individual recovery capacity or excessive external stressors. Hence, there is an increased emphasis on understanding individual differences, including stressors and recovery regulatory characteristics. By observing the differences between athletes who successfully improve their performance (responders) and those who do not (non-responders) following high-intensity, high-volume training, it may be possible to enhance the precision of future applications of high-intensity, high-volume training in terms of effectiveness and safety.
- Study purpose and hypotheses:
- The purpose of this study are two:
- To investigate the training responses (sports performance and fatigue symptoms) post-intervention among endurance athletes who exhibit either compensatory training effects (responders) or fail to show such effects (non-responders) following high-intensity, high-volume training. Additionally, it will examine the differences in stressors, recovery regulatory, and emotional state characteristics between these two groups during the intervention period.
- To explore the impact of stressors and recovery regulatory characteristics on the presence or absence of compensatory effects following high-intensity, high-volume training among endurance athletes who either respond well or poorly to the intervention. The aim is to understand, through a simple yet comprehensive sideline measurement approach, the characteristics of athletes regarding their ability to adequately recover from fatigue states induced by high-intensity, high-volume training.
- The hypotheses of this study:
- Endurance athletes who exhibit either compensatory training effects (responders) or fail to show such effects (non-responders) in sports performance are expected to significantly differ in their training responses (sports performance and fatigue symptoms), stressors, recovery regulatory characteristics, and emotional state characteristics.
- Certain stressors and recovery regulatory characteristics are expected to have a significant influence on whether endurance athletes exhibit favorable compensatory training effects following high-intensity, high-volume training.
- Study procedure:
- Study procedures: The study will involve a 7-week experimental protocol divided into 3 phases: 3 weeks of regular training, 3 weeks of gradually increasing high-intensity training at 130%, and 1 week of reduced training at 55% (Bellinger, 2020). Athletes will undergo assessments before, during, and after each phase, including regular training, high-intensity training, and reduced training, to evaluate training responses (sports performance and fatigue symptoms), stressors, recovery regulatory characteristics, and emotional state. Based on athletes' sports performance after the reduced training phase, they will be categorized into two groups: those with favorable compensatory training effects (response group) and those without (non-response group). The detailed weekly training volume design is as follows: Stage One: 3 weeks of maintaining participants' regular training habits. Stage Two: 3 weeks of high-intensity training (increasing by 10% each week): Stage Three: 1 week of reduced training (gradually reduced to 55% of participants' regular training volume): Decrease current training volume followed by 20%, 15%, 10%, 10%, 10%, 5%, and 5% each day. (4) Measurement instruments: This study will utilize questionnaires and maximal exercise testing for measurement.
- Questionnaire Survey: Participants will be asked to complete the Chinese versions of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) (Hsu, Chang, \& Lu, 2003) and the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport) (Chen \& Ji, 2002) after each week of training (e.g., every Saturday or Sunday). These questionnaires represent the participants' emotional states and stress-recovery regulatory characteristics. The total questionnaire will be administered 7 times, each session taking approximately 20 minutes.
- Maximal exercise testing: Maximal exercise testing will be conducted before and after each stage of the study, including at the beginning of the experiment, after the third week, after the fourth week, after the sixth week, and after the seventh week, totaling 5 maximal exercise tests. Each testing session will take approximately 30 minutes.
- Data collection:
- Measurement of Personal Data and Other Relevant Factors:
- Personal Data: Before the commencement of the experiment, participants will be asked to complete a personal information form in paper format. This form will record all participants' basic information, including age, height, weight, gender, education level, exercise level, sports specialization, sports performance, medical history, dietary habits, and sleep habits. Additionally, information on risk factors for overtraining syndrome (including exercise performance and fatigue symptoms) and other similar symptomatic diseases (including primary viral diseases, bacterial infections, related inflammatory diseases, diabetes, and hyperthyroidism) will be collected to gather participants' baseline characteristics and exclude overtraining syndrome and other similar symptomatic diseases.
- Training Records: During the experiment, all participants' daily training records (including training activities, intensity, and volume) will be electronically recorded to ensure that the expected training intensity is achieved during high-intensity training sessions.
- Primary Outcome Measures:
- Training response:
- Performance: This study will conduct progressive maximal exercise tests, including before the experiment starts and after the third, fourth, sixth, and seventh weeks, totaling 5 tests. The results will record participants' resting heart rate, peak power output, maximum heart rate, maximal oxygen uptake, anaerobic threshold, and perceived fatigue index. The tests will be conducted using a progressive resistance cycle ergometer (Corival CPET, LODE, Netherlands). During the test, participants will undergo a 5-minute warm-up at 50 watts with a self-selected pace, followed by a progressive maximal cycle ergometer test. The test will start at 50 watts and increase by 20 watts every minute until the participant cannot maintain a pedaling speed above 10 seconds. After the test, the intensity will be reduced to 50 watts, and participants will pedal at a self-selected pace for 2 minutes, followed by an inquiry about their perceived fatigue index.
- Symptom Response:
- Fatigue Symptoms: Participants will fill out the Chinese version of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire after each week's training (e.g., on Sundays), recording their feelings over the past week. The abbreviated Chinese version of the POMS contains 37 mood-related adjectives and takes approximately 3 to 7 minutes to complete. The fatigue subscale score will reflect participants' fatigue symptoms.
- Emotional State: Participants will complete the Chinese version of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire, and the total score for emotional disturbance (= tension + depression + anger + confusion + fatigue - vigor) will be calculated to indicate their overall negative emotional disturbance state.
- Stress Recovery Regulation:
- Stress Sources: Participants will fill out the Chinese version of the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport) after each week's training (e.g., on Sundays), recording their feelings over the past three days. The abbreviated Chinese version of the RESTQ-Sport contains 52 items and takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. General stress and specific sport-related stress scores will reflect participants' stress source characteristics.
- Recovery Regulation: Participants will complete the Chinese version of the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport), and scores for general recovery and specific sport-related recovery will be calculated to reflect their recovery regulation characteristics.
- Statistical analysis
- Firstly, this study will utilize independent t-tests, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression analyses to compare potential differences between the response (exercise performance and fatigue symptoms), stress sources, recovery regulation, and emotional states of the response and non-response groups. The significance level (P-value) will be set at 0.15.
- Secondly, logistic stepwise regression analysis will be employed to identify stress sources and recovery regulation characteristics that significantly influence endurance athletes with or without responses after high-intensity interval training. The significance level (P-value) will be set at 0.05.
- Conditions
- Exercise Overtraining, Stressor, Psychological
- Being tested
- High-intensity intensive training, Taper
- Keywords
- Supercompensation, High-intensity intensive training, Stressor, Recovery regulation
- Medical subject headings
- Overtraining Syndrome, Stress, Psychological
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
High-intensity intensive trainingOther
Participants will conduct a 3-weeks of 130% progressive high-intensity intensive training (increasing by 10% each week).
Week 1: Increase training to 110% of participants' regular training volume. Week 2: Increase training to 120% of participants' regular training volume. Week 3: Increase training to 130% of participants' regular training volume.
TaperOther
Participants will conduct a 1-week taper phase by gradually reducing to 55% of their regular training volume.
Day 1: Decrease current training volume by 20%. Day 2: Decrease current training volume by 15%. Day 3: Decrease current training volume by 10%. Day 4: Decrease current training volume by 10%. Day 5: Decrease current training volume by 10%. Day 6: Decrease current training volume by 5%. Day 7: Decrease current training volume by 5%.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Regular training | No intervention | Participants maintain their regular training habits for 3 weeks. |
| High-intensity intensive training | Experimental | Participants increase their regular regular training volume by 10% each week for 3 weeks. Receives: Other: High-intensity intensive training |
| Taper | Experimental | Participants gradually reduced to 55% of their regular training volume for 1 week. Receives: Other: Taper |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Stressor
The stress score of the recovery-stress questionnaire for athletes (RESTQ-sport) questionnaire.
Measured: Pre-test and the following 7 weeks (follow up once a week)
Recovery regulation
The recovery score of the recovery-stress questionnaire for athletes (RESTQ-sport) questionnaire.
Measured: Pre-test and the following 7 weeks (follow up once a week)
Mood state
The total score of the Profile of Mood State (POMS) questionnaire.
Measured: Pre-test and the following 7 weeks (follow up once a week)
Peak power output
The peak power output at the end of an incremental exercise test.
Measured: Baseline, the 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th week
Secondary outcomes (2)
Maximal heart rate
The maximal heart rate at the end of an incremental exercise test.
Measured: Baseline, the 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th week
Fatigue state
The fatigue score of the Profile of Mood State (POMS) questionnaire.
Measured: Pre-test and the following 7 weeks (follow up once a week)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 Mar 2024
- Study start1 Sep 2023
- Primary completion31 Aug 2024 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Aug 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (44)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Exercise OvertrainingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Screening
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- The present study is designed as a prospective intervention and prognostic prediction study, employing a single-subject design with a reversal (ABA) design. This design involves a self-controlled intervention experiment with three phases: baseline training period (A), high-intensity, high-volume training period (B), and reduced training period (A). Subsequently, the study aims to explore predictive factors influencing the presence or absence of favorable compensatory training effects following the intervention.
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 158 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Mei-Wun Tsai, Study chair, Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06295016
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- NYCU112130AE
- Status last verified
- Nov 2023
- First submitted
- 20 Nov 2023
- Last updated
- 6 Mar 2024
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Steinacker JM, Lormes W, Reissnecker S, Liu Y. New aspects of the hormone and cytokine response to training. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2004 Apr;91(4):382-91. doi: 10.1007/s00421-003-0960-x. Epub 2003 Nov 8.
PubMed 14608461Meeusen R, Duclos M, Foster C, Fry A, Gleeson M, Nieman D, Raglin J, Rietjens G, Steinacker J, Urhausen A; European College of Sport Science; American College of Sports Medicine. Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the overtraining syndrome: joint consensus statement of the European College of Sport Science and the American College of Sports Medicine. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2013 Jan;45(1):186-205. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e318279a10a.
PubMed 23247672Matos NF, Winsley RJ, Williams CA. Prevalence of nonfunctional overreaching/overtraining in young English athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011 Jul;43(7):1287-94. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e318207f87b.
PubMed 21131861Cadegiani FA, da Silva PHL, Abrao TCP, Kater CE. Diagnosis of Overtraining Syndrome: Results of the Endocrine and Metabolic Responses on Overtraining Syndrome Study: EROS-DIAGNOSIS. J Sports Med (Hindawi Publ Corp). 2020 Apr 22;2020:3937819. doi: 10.1155/2020/3937819. eCollection 2020.
PubMed 32373644Halson SL, Jeukendrup AE. Does overtraining exist? An analysis of overreaching and overtraining research. Sports Med. 2004;34(14):967-81. doi: 10.2165/00007256-200434140-00003.
PubMed 15571428Aubry A, Hausswirth C, Louis J, Coutts AJ, LE Meur Y. Functional overreaching: the key to peak performance during the taper? Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2014 Sep;46(9):1769-77. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000301.
PubMed 25134000Aubry A, Hausswirth C, Louis J, Coutts AJ, Buchheit M, Le Meur Y. The Development of Functional Overreaching Is Associated with a Faster Heart Rate Recovery in Endurance Athletes. PLoS One. 2015 Oct 21;10(10):e0139754. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139754. eCollection 2015.
PubMed 26488766Le Meur Y, Pichon A, Schaal K, Schmitt L, Louis J, Gueneron J, Vidal PP, Hausswirth C. Evidence of parasympathetic hyperactivity in functionally overreached athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2013 Nov;45(11):2061-71. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3182980125.
PubMed 24136138Le Meur Y, Louis J, Aubry A, Gueneron J, Pichon A, Schaal K, Corcuff JB, Hatem SN, Isnard R, Hausswirth C. Maximal exercise limitation in functionally overreached triathletes: role of cardiac adrenergic stimulation. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2014 Aug 1;117(3):214-22. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00191.2014. Epub 2014 Jun 12.
PubMed 24925979Bellinger P. Functional Overreaching in Endurance Athletes: A Necessity or Cause for Concern? Sports Med. 2020 Jun;50(6):1059-1073. doi: 10.1007/s40279-020-01269-w.
PubMed 32064575Decroix L, Piacentini MF, Rietjens G, Meeusen R. Monitoring Physical and Cognitive Overload During a Training Camp in Professional Female Cyclists. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2016 Oct;11(7):933-939. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2015-0570. Epub 2016 Aug 24.
PubMed 26816388Gabbett TJ. The training-injury prevention paradox: should athletes be training smarter and harder? Br J Sports Med. 2016 Mar;50(5):273-80. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2015-095788. Epub 2016 Jan 12.
PubMed 26758673Bellenger CR, Karavirta L, Thomson RL, Robertson EY, Davison K, Buckley JD. Contextualizing Parasympathetic Hyperactivity in Functionally Overreached Athletes With Perceptions of Training Tolerance. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2016 Jul;11(7):685-92. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2015-0495. Epub 2015 Dec 1.
PubMed 26640275Bellenger CR, Thomson RL, Robertson EY, Davison K, Nelson MJ, Karavirta L, Buckley JD. The effect of functional overreaching on parameters of autonomic heart rate regulation. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2017 Mar;117(3):541-550. doi: 10.1007/s00421-017-3549-5. Epub 2017 Feb 11.
PubMed 28188371Fuller JT, Bellenger CR, Thewlis D, Arnold J, Thomson RL, Tsiros MD, Robertson EY, Buckley JD. Tracking Performance Changes With Running-Stride Variability When Athletes Are Functionally Overreached. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2017 Mar;12(3):357-363. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2015-0618. Epub 2016 Aug 24.
PubMed 27295717
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Mar 2024. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Influence of Stressors and Recovery Regulation on the Super-compensation Effect of Endurance Athletes After High-intensity Intensive Training
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06295016
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- NYCU112130AE
- Conditions
- Exercise Overtraining, Stressor, Psychological
- Keywords
- Supercompensation, High-intensity intensive training, Stressor, Recovery regulation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Unknown status
- Enrolment
- 158 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Sep 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Aug 2024 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Aug 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 6 Mar 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Purpose: Investigating the effects of stressors and recovery regulation on the super-compensation effect of high-intensity intensive training (IT) in endurance athletes. Methods: This study will recruit 176 competitively trained endurance adult athletes. Participants will conduct a 7-week 3-stage experiment, including 3 weeks of regular training, 3 weeks of 130% progressive IT, and 1 week of 55% taper. Measurement will include training responses (performance and fatigue symptoms), stressors, recovery regulation, and mood state at baseline, during and after regular training, IT, and taper separately. According to the performance after taper, all participants will category into either the responder or non-responder of well-response to supercompensation effect. Statistic analysis: Independent t-test, Chi-squared test, and binary logistic regression will be used to compare the difference in training responses, stressors, recovery regulation, and mood state characteristics between responder and non-responder groups. P value sets at 0.15 for identifying the potential predictors. Logistic stepwise multiple regression will be used further to determine the significant predictors for the responders of well-response to the super-compensation among endurance athletes. P value sets at 0.05.
Detailed description
- Research problems and motivation: (1) Research problems: Currently, the primary challenge in sports training monitoring resides in the disparity of responses among athletes to identical high-intensity, high-volume training stimuli (e.g., total distance, frequency, intensity, workload) (Aubry et al., 2015; Aubry et al., 2014; Bellinger, 2020; Le Meur et al., 2014; Le Meur et al., 2013). Despite the widespread dissemination of preventative strategies for overtraining syndrome among coaches and athletes in current sports science research, non-functional overreaching and overtraining syndrome continue to exhibit a prevalence of approximately 19% to 30% in recent years. (2) Research motivation: Recent studies have found that following high-intensity, high-volume training, approximately 45.5% to 100% of individuals are categorized as athletes who fail to recover and show poor responses adequately (Aubry et al., 2015; Aubry et al., 2014; Bellenger, Karavirta, et al., 2016; Bellenger et al., 2017; Bellinger, 2020; Fuller et al., 2017; Le Meur et al., 2013; Woods et al., 2018). This phenomenon may be influenced by factors such as inadequate individual recovery capacity or excessive external stressors. Hence, there is an increased emphasis on understanding individual differences, including stressors and recovery regulatory characteristics. By observing the differences between athletes who successfully improve their performance (responders) and those who do not (non-responders) following high-intensity, high-volume training, it may be possible to enhance the precision of future applications of high-intensity, high-volume training in terms of effectiveness and safety.
- Study purpose and hypotheses:
- The purpose of this study are two:
- To investigate the training responses (sports performance and fatigue symptoms) post-intervention among endurance athletes who exhibit either compensatory training effects (responders) or fail to show such effects (non-responders) following high-intensity, high-volume training. Additionally, it will examine the differences in stressors, recovery regulatory, and emotional state characteristics between these two groups during the intervention period.
- To explore the impact of stressors and recovery regulatory characteristics on the presence or absence of compensatory effects following high-intensity, high-volume training among endurance athletes who either respond well or poorly to the intervention. The aim is to understand, through a simple yet comprehensive sideline measurement approach, the characteristics of athletes regarding their ability to adequately recover from fatigue states induced by high-intensity, high-volume training.
- The hypotheses of this study:
- Endurance athletes who exhibit either compensatory training effects (responders) or fail to show such effects (non-responders) in sports performance are expected to significantly differ in their training responses (sports performance and fatigue symptoms), stressors, recovery regulatory characteristics, and emotional state characteristics.
- Certain stressors and recovery regulatory characteristics are expected to have a significant influence on whether endurance athletes exhibit favorable compensatory training effects following high-intensity, high-volume training.
- Study procedure:
- Study procedures: The study will involve a 7-week experimental protocol divided into 3 phases: 3 weeks of regular training, 3 weeks of gradually increasing high-intensity training at 130%, and 1 week of reduced training at 55% (Bellinger, 2020). Athletes will undergo assessments before, during, and after each phase, including regular training, high-intensity training, and reduced training, to evaluate training responses (sports performance and fatigue symptoms), stressors, recovery regulatory characteristics, and emotional state. Based on athletes' sports performance after the reduced training phase, they will be categorized into two groups: those with favorable compensatory training effects (response group) and those without (non-response group). The detailed weekly training volume design is as follows: Stage One: 3 weeks of maintaining participants' regular training habits. Stage Two: 3 weeks of high-intensity training (increasing by 10% each week): Stage Three: 1 week of reduced training (gradually reduced to 55% of participants' regular training volume): Decrease current training volume followed by 20%, 15%, 10%, 10%, 10%, 5%, and 5% each day. (4) Measurement instruments: This study will utilize questionnaires and maximal exercise testing for measurement.
- Questionnaire Survey: Participants will be asked to complete the Chinese versions of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) (Hsu, Chang, \& Lu, 2003) and the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport) (Chen \& Ji, 2002) after each week of training (e.g., every Saturday or Sunday). These questionnaires represent the participants' emotional states and stress-recovery regulatory characteristics. The total questionnaire will be administered 7 times, each session taking approximately 20 minutes.
- Maximal exercise testing: Maximal exercise testing will be conducted before and after each stage of the study, including at the beginning of the experiment, after the third week, after the fourth week, after the sixth week, and after the seventh week, totaling 5 maximal exercise tests. Each testing session will take approximately 30 minutes.
- Data collection:
- Measurement of Personal Data and Other Relevant Factors:
- Personal Data: Before the commencement of the experiment, participants will be asked to complete a personal information form in paper format. This form will record all participants' basic information, including age, height, weight, gender, education level, exercise level, sports specialization, sports performance, medical history, dietary habits, and sleep habits. Additionally, information on risk factors for overtraining syndrome (including exercise performance and fatigue symptoms) and other similar symptomatic diseases (including primary viral diseases, bacterial infections, related inflammatory diseases, diabetes, and hyperthyroidism) will be collected to gather participants' baseline characteristics and exclude overtraining syndrome and other similar symptomatic diseases.
- Training Records: During the experiment, all participants' daily training records (including training activities, intensity, and volume) will be electronically recorded to ensure that the expected training intensity is achieved during high-intensity training sessions.
- Primary Outcome Measures:
- Training response:
- Performance: This study will conduct progressive maximal exercise tests, including before the experiment starts and after the third, fourth, sixth, and seventh weeks, totaling 5 tests. The results will record participants' resting heart rate, peak power output, maximum heart rate, maximal oxygen uptake, anaerobic threshold, and perceived fatigue index. The tests will be conducted using a progressive resistance cycle ergometer (Corival CPET, LODE, Netherlands). During the test, participants will undergo a 5-minute warm-up at 50 watts with a self-selected pace, followed by a progressive maximal cycle ergometer test. The test will start at 50 watts and increase by 20 watts every minute until the participant cannot maintain a pedaling speed above 10 seconds. After the test, the intensity will be reduced to 50 watts, and participants will pedal at a self-selected pace for 2 minutes, followed by an inquiry about their perceived fatigue index.
- Symptom Response:
- Fatigue Symptoms: Participants will fill out the Chinese version of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire after each week's training (e.g., on Sundays), recording their feelings over the past week. The abbreviated Chinese version of the POMS contains 37 mood-related adjectives and takes approximately 3 to 7 minutes to complete. The fatigue subscale score will reflect participants' fatigue symptoms.
- Emotional State: Participants will complete the Chinese version of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire, and the total score for emotional disturbance (= tension + depression + anger + confusion + fatigue - vigor) will be calculated to indicate their overall negative emotional disturbance state.
- Stress Recovery Regulation:
- Stress Sources: Participants will fill out the Chinese version of the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport) after each week's training (e.g., on Sundays), recording their feelings over the past three days. The abbreviated Chinese version of the RESTQ-Sport contains 52 items and takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. General stress and specific sport-related stress scores will reflect participants' stress source characteristics.
- Recovery Regulation: Participants will complete the Chinese version of the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport), and scores for general recovery and specific sport-related recovery will be calculated to reflect their recovery regulation characteristics.
- Statistical analysis
- Firstly, this study will utilize independent t-tests, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression analyses to compare potential differences between the response (exercise performance and fatigue symptoms), stress sources, recovery regulation, and emotional states of the response and non-response groups. The significance level (P-value) will be set at 0.15.
- Secondly, logistic stepwise regression analysis will be employed to identify stress sources and recovery regulation characteristics that significantly influence endurance athletes with or without responses after high-intensity interval training. The significance level (P-value) will be set at 0.05.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Screening
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- The present study is designed as a prospective intervention and prognostic prediction study, employing a single-subject design with a reversal (ABA) design. This design involves a self-controlled intervention experiment with three phases: baseline training period (A), high-intensity, high-volume training period (B), and reduced training period (A). Subsequently, the study aims to explore predictive factors influencing the presence or absence of favorable compensatory training effects following the intervention.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Regular training | No intervention | –Participants maintain their regular training habits for 3 weeks. |
| High-intensity intensive training | Experimental | Other: High-intensity intensive trainingParticipants increase their regular regular training volume by 10% each week for 3 weeks. |
| Taper | Experimental | Other: TaperParticipants gradually reduced to 55% of their regular training volume for 1 week. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 50 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Athletes aged 18 or above with endurance-type competitive sports experience. For instance, athletes who have participated in track events of 400 meters or longer, marathons, road cycling, swimming, rowing, race walking, triathlons, orienteering, and similar competitive events.
- A habitual training regimen of at least 6 hours per week. For instance, training three times a week for at least 2 hours each session.
- Minimum of 3 years of training experience, such as being part of a school team or a specialized athlete.
- No severe injuries within the past year. For instance, severe non-regenerative anemia, craniotomy due to cerebral aneurysm, acute myocardial infarction, severe hepatic cirrhosis, severe systemic lupus erythematosus nephritis, severe rheumatoid arthritis, severe head trauma, and similar conditions.
- Not taking substances affecting athletic, physiological, and psychological performance. For instance, unauthorized drugs, prohibited substances, growth hormones like somatotropin and related substances, β2 agonists, hormone and metabolic modulators, diuretics, masking agents, stimulants, anesthetics, cannabis, adrenal corticosteroids, and similar substances.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Presence of an illness resembling symptoms of overtraining syndrome in the week before the start of the experiment. This includes primary viral illnesses, bacterial infections, associated inflammatory diseases, diabetes, or hyperthyroidism.
- Suspected symptoms of high-risk overtraining syndrome in the week preceding the experiment, such as persistent fatigue or exhaustion, unexplained significant decrease in athletic performance exceeding 10%.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| High-intensity intensive trainingParticipants will conduct a 3-weeks of 130% progressive high-intensity intensive training (increasing by 10% each week). Week 1: Increase training to 110% of participants' regular training volume. Week 2: Increase training to 120% of participants' regular training volume. Week 3: Increase training to 130% of participants' regular training volume. | Other | High-intensity intensive training |
| TaperParticipants will conduct a 1-week taper phase by gradually reducing to 55% of their regular training volume. Day 1: Decrease current training volume by 20%. Day 2: Decrease current training volume by 15%. Day 3: Decrease current training volume by 10%. Day 4: Decrease current training volume by 10%. Day 5: Decrease current training volume by 10%. Day 6: Decrease current training volume by 5%. Day 7: Decrease current training volume by 5%. | Other | Taper |
Primary outcome
Stressor
Time frame: Pre-test and the following 7 weeks (follow up once a week)
The stress score of the recovery-stress questionnaire for athletes (RESTQ-sport) questionnaire.
Recovery regulation
Time frame: Pre-test and the following 7 weeks (follow up once a week)
The recovery score of the recovery-stress questionnaire for athletes (RESTQ-sport) questionnaire.
Mood state
Time frame: Pre-test and the following 7 weeks (follow up once a week)
The total score of the Profile of Mood State (POMS) questionnaire.
Peak power output
Time frame: Baseline, the 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th week
The peak power output at the end of an incremental exercise test.
2 secondary outcomes
Maximal heart rate
Time frame: Baseline, the 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th week
Fatigue state
Time frame: Pre-test and the following 7 weeks (follow up once a week)
Results and safety
Results are not available in the source record.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Mar 2024.
- Background: PubMed 14608461Steinacker JM, Lormes W, Reissnecker S, Liu Y. New aspects of the hormone and cytokine response to training. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2004 Apr;91(4):382-91. doi: 10.1007/s00421-003-0960-x. Epub 2003 Nov 8.
- Background: PubMed 23247672Meeusen R, Duclos M, Foster C, Fry A, Gleeson M, Nieman D, Raglin J, Rietjens G, Steinacker J, Urhausen A; European College of Sport Science; American College of Sports Medicine. Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the overtraining syndrome: joint consensus statement of the European College of Sport Science and the American College of Sports Medicine. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2013 Jan;45(1):186-205. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e318279a10a.
- Background: PubMed 21131861Matos NF, Winsley RJ, Williams CA. Prevalence of nonfunctional overreaching/overtraining in young English athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011 Jul;43(7):1287-94. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e318207f87b.
- Background: PubMed 32373644Cadegiani FA, da Silva PHL, Abrao TCP, Kater CE. Diagnosis of Overtraining Syndrome: Results of the Endocrine and Metabolic Responses on Overtraining Syndrome Study: EROS-DIAGNOSIS. J Sports Med (Hindawi Publ Corp). 2020 Apr 22;2020:3937819. doi: 10.1155/2020/3937819. eCollection 2020.
- Background: PubMed 15571428Halson SL, Jeukendrup AE. Does overtraining exist? An analysis of overreaching and overtraining research. Sports Med. 2004;34(14):967-81. doi: 10.2165/00007256-200434140-00003.
- Background: PubMed 25134000Aubry A, Hausswirth C, Louis J, Coutts AJ, LE Meur Y. Functional overreaching: the key to peak performance during the taper? Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2014 Sep;46(9):1769-77. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000301.
- Background: PubMed 26488766Aubry A, Hausswirth C, Louis J, Coutts AJ, Buchheit M, Le Meur Y. The Development of Functional Overreaching Is Associated with a Faster Heart Rate Recovery in Endurance Athletes. PLoS One. 2015 Oct 21;10(10):e0139754. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139754. eCollection 2015.
- Background: PubMed 24136138Le Meur Y, Pichon A, Schaal K, Schmitt L, Louis J, Gueneron J, Vidal PP, Hausswirth C. Evidence of parasympathetic hyperactivity in functionally overreached athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2013 Nov;45(11):2061-71. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3182980125.
- Background: PubMed 24925979Le Meur Y, Louis J, Aubry A, Gueneron J, Pichon A, Schaal K, Corcuff JB, Hatem SN, Isnard R, Hausswirth C. Maximal exercise limitation in functionally overreached triathletes: role of cardiac adrenergic stimulation. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2014 Aug 1;117(3):214-22. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00191.2014. Epub 2014 Jun 12.
- Background: PubMed 32064575Bellinger P. Functional Overreaching in Endurance Athletes: A Necessity or Cause for Concern? Sports Med. 2020 Jun;50(6):1059-1073. doi: 10.1007/s40279-020-01269-w.
- Background: PubMed 26816388Decroix L, Piacentini MF, Rietjens G, Meeusen R. Monitoring Physical and Cognitive Overload During a Training Camp in Professional Female Cyclists. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2016 Oct;11(7):933-939. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2015-0570. Epub 2016 Aug 24.
- Background: PubMed 26758673Gabbett TJ. The training-injury prevention paradox: should athletes be training smarter and harder? Br J Sports Med. 2016 Mar;50(5):273-80. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2015-095788. Epub 2016 Jan 12.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Mei-Wun Tsai study chair
Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing High-intensity intensive training and Taper in people with Exercise Overtraining and Stressor, Psychological, run by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University at 1 site in Taiwan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Mar 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Taiwan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Results are not available in the source record.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Mei-Wun Tsai (+886-02-2826-7939, tmwk@nycu.edu.tw), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Stressor (time frame: Pre-test and the following 7 weeks (follow up once a week)). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06295016, which also lists 44 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 Mar 2024.