Elite Athletes
Introduction
Stress is very common among elite athletes (Koivula, Hassmén, & Fallby, 2002). It is a mental and emotional strain on the body caused by demanding circumstances which affects high level athletes (Bejan & Toniţa, 2014). Elite athletes are athletes that play at one of the highest levels, participate in major competitions, and are experienced athletes (Swann, Moran, & Piggott, 2015). Many studies have been conducted on how elite athlete’s stress levels are affected due to challenges in their life, including school, work, and poor training programs (Thatcher, 2008; Bejan & Toniţa, 2014). These studies acknowledge that elite athletes are overwhelmed by stressful events in their everyday lives, causing them to become emotionally weak. …show more content…
However, very few studies have looked at the stress levels of recreationally active and fit athletes, and how their stress is caused specifically by the regular sports training that they participate in. These athletes are considered recreational athletes because they are physically active but they do not train competitively at a high level of intensity and they do not focus as competitive athletes (Laquale, 2009). This research proposal will discuss stress levels and different types of training, including, periodized training programs and high training loads with no recovery.
Recreational athletes that participate in high training loads may endure high stress levels, and this tends to occur due to the lack of adequate recovery. Moreover, when recreational athletes are faced with excessive stress, they will notice various symptoms, for example, poor well-being and a lack of sleep, which causes performance decrement (Brink, Visscher, Coutts, & Lemmink, 2010). Learning more about appropriate training programs for these athletes will aid in less stress among these athletes. For instance, research suggests that recreational athletes that participate in periodized training programs will likely have less stress than recreational athletes who train at high training loads with little or no recovery (Nunes et al., 2014). This topic is important due to the number of recreational athletes that experience stress during training, which may affect their ability to be successful in sporting events (Noon et al., 2015). In a society where sports are apart of our daily lives and entertainment, it is crucial to conduct studies that will help further the knowledge on how to maintain successful performances among these athletes.
Literature Review
Stress and Recovery
Too much or too little stress can cause performance decrement amongst elite athletes (Brink et al., 2011).
Brink et al. (2011) and Kellmann (2010) performed a correlational study using a recovery-stress test questionnaire (RESTQ) to monitor athletes and assess overreaching (too much stress). The study by Brink et al. (2011) shows that overreaching harmed emotional stress, physical recovery, and well-being. Thus, adequate recovery time is needed in order to prevent high stress levels (Brink et al., 2011; Nunes et al., 2014). Kellmann (2010) agrees with this quantitative data by stating the importance of balancing stress and recovery. Kellmann (2010) specifically found that when intensity and volume are increased during training, elevated stress and reduced recovery scores are present (Kellmann, 2010). Although these studies demonstrate that increased training intensity and volume cause higher levels of stress, they lack research on the different causes of high stress levels, for various individuals. For example, increased stress levels and negative symptoms may not only be due to the athlete’s training program, they can also occur due to other factors, for example, sleep quality and injuries (Noon et al., 2015). This study will measure diverse factors, rather than just perceived stress
levels.
The RESTQ is considered one of the most significant developments in the research of recovery in sport because it allows researchers to assess athletes' stress and recovery simultaneously (Martinent, Decret, Isoard-Gautheur, Filaire, & Ferrand, 2014). Martinent et al. (2014) conducted a study using the RESTQ and found that a failure to properly recover from training will cause burnout, overtraining, and high stress levels (Martinent et al., 2014). Therefore, Martinent et al. (2014) proposed that enhanced recovery will allow athletes to train more and improve their overall fitness. This represents the importance of recovery during training programs.
Stress and high training loads High levels of training cause negative training stress, which regresses along a continuum from staleness to overtraining to burnout (Silva, 1990). However, when high training loads are associated with an adequate amount of recovery, then athletes will notice lower stress levels and improved performance. Thus, research demonstrates the importance of recovery in addition to exposure to high training loads, and how this is effective in preparation of competitions (Noon, James, Clarke, Akubat, & Thake, 2015; Savage & Torgler, 2011). A tolerable amount of stress is required to perform well at elite levels (Noon et al., 2015). However, if training exposure becomes too much, then an imbalance between stress and recovery will occur (Nunes et al., 2014; Brink et al., 2011; Kellmann, 2010). Noon et al. (2015) conducted a correlational study using a well-being questionnaire (WQ) to test factors of well-being, including stress, on a 7-point scale (Noon et al., 2015). This ordinal data showed that high levels of training, with a lack of rest, lead to undesirable levels of stress. Therefore, this study is related to the descriptive statistics illustrated by Kellmann (2010) and Nunes et al. (2014), which represent the importance of team periodization training programs.
Coutts, Wallace, & Slattery (2007) conducted a study using a RESTQ to test high training loads in triathletes. It was found that a poor recovery-stress state was due to increased training loads, however the recovery-stress state was improved immediately after the tapering phase. Kellmann (2010) further discussed the harm of high training volumes, by illustrating that high training volumes resulted in elevated stress levels and reduced recovery scores. Participants with low levels of stress, had increased accomplishments, and sport improvement (Kellman, 2010). This demonstrated the importance of having a balance when engaging in training programs, as it leads to enhanced well-being and success. Noon et al. (2015) went beyond this research by discussing the importance of individualizing these programs, as many elite athletes may have different reasons for high stress levels.
These studies suggest that certain training programs are harmful to elite athletes, particularly, high training loads with no recovery. Therefore, elite athletes are recommended to balance their training programs with an adequate amount of recovery. However, very few studies have collected data on the effects of high training loads on various athletes. Instead, they solely focus on a single sport. Therefore, this study will be conducted in order to measure the effect of training volume on recreational athletes within various sports.
Stress and Periodized Training Programs
Specific training programs can prevent disparities between stress and recovery among elite athletes (Nunes et al., 2012). For example, Nunes et al. (2012) found that certain training programs produced moderate stress levels and equal amounts of recovery. Therefore, researchers conducted an experimental study on the Women’s Brazilian basketball team during their 12-week periodization training program prior to their championship (Nunes et al., 2014). The 12-week periodization training program consisted of an overload training phase from the 4th to 6th week, then two weeks of tapering (recovery), then another overload training phase from the 8th to 10th week, and finally ended with another two week tapering phase (Nunes et al., 2014).
Stress is very common among elite athletes (Koivula, Hassmén, & Fallby, 2002). It is a mental and emotional strain on the body caused by demanding circumstances which affects high level athletes (Bejan & Toniţa, 2014). Elite athletes are athletes that play at one of the highest levels, participate in major competitions, and are experienced athletes (Swann, Moran, & Piggott, 2015). Many studies have been conducted on how elite athlete’s stress levels are affected due to challenges in their life, including school, work, and poor training programs (Thatcher, 2008; Bejan & Toniţa, 2014). These studies acknowledge that elite athletes are overwhelmed by stressful events in their everyday lives, causing them to become emotionally weak. …show more content…
However, very few studies have looked at the stress levels of recreationally active and fit athletes, and how their stress is caused specifically by the regular sports training that they participate in. These athletes are considered recreational athletes because they are physically active but they do not train competitively at a high level of intensity and they do not focus as competitive athletes (Laquale, 2009). This research proposal will discuss stress levels and different types of training, including, periodized training programs and high training loads with no recovery.
Recreational athletes that participate in high training loads may endure high stress levels, and this tends to occur due to the lack of adequate recovery. Moreover, when recreational athletes are faced with excessive stress, they will notice various symptoms, for example, poor well-being and a lack of sleep, which causes performance decrement (Brink, Visscher, Coutts, & Lemmink, 2010). Learning more about appropriate training programs for these athletes will aid in less stress among these athletes. For instance, research suggests that recreational athletes that participate in periodized training programs will likely have less stress than recreational athletes who train at high training loads with little or no recovery (Nunes et al., 2014). This topic is important due to the number of recreational athletes that experience stress during training, which may affect their ability to be successful in sporting events (Noon et al., 2015). In a society where sports are apart of our daily lives and entertainment, it is crucial to conduct studies that will help further the knowledge on how to maintain successful performances among these athletes.
Literature Review
Stress and Recovery
Too much or too little stress can cause performance decrement amongst elite athletes (Brink et al., 2011).
Brink et al. (2011) and Kellmann (2010) performed a correlational study using a recovery-stress test questionnaire (RESTQ) to monitor athletes and assess overreaching (too much stress). The study by Brink et al. (2011) shows that overreaching harmed emotional stress, physical recovery, and well-being. Thus, adequate recovery time is needed in order to prevent high stress levels (Brink et al., 2011; Nunes et al., 2014). Kellmann (2010) agrees with this quantitative data by stating the importance of balancing stress and recovery. Kellmann (2010) specifically found that when intensity and volume are increased during training, elevated stress and reduced recovery scores are present (Kellmann, 2010). Although these studies demonstrate that increased training intensity and volume cause higher levels of stress, they lack research on the different causes of high stress levels, for various individuals. For example, increased stress levels and negative symptoms may not only be due to the athlete’s training program, they can also occur due to other factors, for example, sleep quality and injuries (Noon et al., 2015). This study will measure diverse factors, rather than just perceived stress
levels.
The RESTQ is considered one of the most significant developments in the research of recovery in sport because it allows researchers to assess athletes' stress and recovery simultaneously (Martinent, Decret, Isoard-Gautheur, Filaire, & Ferrand, 2014). Martinent et al. (2014) conducted a study using the RESTQ and found that a failure to properly recover from training will cause burnout, overtraining, and high stress levels (Martinent et al., 2014). Therefore, Martinent et al. (2014) proposed that enhanced recovery will allow athletes to train more and improve their overall fitness. This represents the importance of recovery during training programs.
Stress and high training loads High levels of training cause negative training stress, which regresses along a continuum from staleness to overtraining to burnout (Silva, 1990). However, when high training loads are associated with an adequate amount of recovery, then athletes will notice lower stress levels and improved performance. Thus, research demonstrates the importance of recovery in addition to exposure to high training loads, and how this is effective in preparation of competitions (Noon, James, Clarke, Akubat, & Thake, 2015; Savage & Torgler, 2011). A tolerable amount of stress is required to perform well at elite levels (Noon et al., 2015). However, if training exposure becomes too much, then an imbalance between stress and recovery will occur (Nunes et al., 2014; Brink et al., 2011; Kellmann, 2010). Noon et al. (2015) conducted a correlational study using a well-being questionnaire (WQ) to test factors of well-being, including stress, on a 7-point scale (Noon et al., 2015). This ordinal data showed that high levels of training, with a lack of rest, lead to undesirable levels of stress. Therefore, this study is related to the descriptive statistics illustrated by Kellmann (2010) and Nunes et al. (2014), which represent the importance of team periodization training programs.
Coutts, Wallace, & Slattery (2007) conducted a study using a RESTQ to test high training loads in triathletes. It was found that a poor recovery-stress state was due to increased training loads, however the recovery-stress state was improved immediately after the tapering phase. Kellmann (2010) further discussed the harm of high training volumes, by illustrating that high training volumes resulted in elevated stress levels and reduced recovery scores. Participants with low levels of stress, had increased accomplishments, and sport improvement (Kellman, 2010). This demonstrated the importance of having a balance when engaging in training programs, as it leads to enhanced well-being and success. Noon et al. (2015) went beyond this research by discussing the importance of individualizing these programs, as many elite athletes may have different reasons for high stress levels.
These studies suggest that certain training programs are harmful to elite athletes, particularly, high training loads with no recovery. Therefore, elite athletes are recommended to balance their training programs with an adequate amount of recovery. However, very few studies have collected data on the effects of high training loads on various athletes. Instead, they solely focus on a single sport. Therefore, this study will be conducted in order to measure the effect of training volume on recreational athletes within various sports.
Stress and Periodized Training Programs
Specific training programs can prevent disparities between stress and recovery among elite athletes (Nunes et al., 2012). For example, Nunes et al. (2012) found that certain training programs produced moderate stress levels and equal amounts of recovery. Therefore, researchers conducted an experimental study on the Women’s Brazilian basketball team during their 12-week periodization training program prior to their championship (Nunes et al., 2014). The 12-week periodization training program consisted of an overload training phase from the 4th to 6th week, then two weeks of tapering (recovery), then another overload training phase from the 8th to 10th week, and finally ended with another two week tapering phase (Nunes et al., 2014).