Working out and exercising can be great for you. It provides countless health benefits that can improve cardiovascular health and lower risk for diseases. In some cases, however, exercising can be harmful or even dangerous. Working out can become harmful to us when we overtrain, making it crucial to know the signs and symptoms of overtraining syndrome to prevent injury and avoid the potential negative effects that come with it.
Overtraining syndrome occurs when we push our bodies past its limitations. This can occur through many forms of physical activity such as weight lifting, swimming laps, or running on the treadmill at the gym. Overtraining syndrome can lead to serious muscle and joint injury. Beyond this, it also encompasses a wide variety of other symptoms which can include: difficulty sleeping, decreased appetite, significant fatigue, mood changes, and an elevated resting heart rate. When combined, these side effects will decrease physical performance making exercising increasingly difficult.
So, what can you do to avoid overtraining syndrome? Be sure to raise the difficulty levels at a gradual, consistent pace to avoid injuries or excessive fatigue. As a preventative approach, take breaks or “rest days” in between your workouts. Along with working out and including rest days, it’s important to follow a nutritious diet and get adequate sleep.
For those who have ever been affected by overtraining syndrome, physical therapy can be a highly effective way to improve strength and endurance to promote recovery and ensure that future exercise will be helpful instead of harmful. Physical therapy can assist you in developing a safe fitness plan in which your training errors are identified and corrected so your fitness goals can be safely met. A licensed physical therapist’s evaluation can also shed light on any pre-existing conditions that may be hindering your physical performance. Once concluded, you’ll be walking away with effective stretches and exercises to help improve your strength, endurance, and flexibility along with the know how of how hard you should be pushing yourself while being safe at the same time.
If you feel that you may be experiencing overtraining syndrome, or want to take preventative measures, contact Farmingdale Physical Therapy East today. Our highly committed and experienced staff will help you address your current concerns and achieve your fitness goals, ensuring your optimal health and well-being.