If the body is subjected to continuous stress over a relatively long period of time without sufficient time to recover, it can eventually lead to a decline in performance. In the worst-case scenario, it can also lead to a serious injury. How can you tell if you’re at risk of overtraining?

RECOVERY IS THE KEY!

Many tennis players know that recovery is an important part of training itself, but despite this, they don’t engage in regular recovery. The first signs of fatigue and overtraining are often ignored, especially when training is going well; we just want to keep improving and never rest. Training makes us happy and euphoric, and this is what makes this sport so fascinating yet also dangerous.

This is why professional tennis players pay more attention to recovery, because they know that this phase is essential for optimal performance.

After intense training, fatigue symptoms are normal to a certain degree and are actually a sign that the body has worked well! But when can we start talking about overtraining?

OVERTRAINING SYMPTOMS:

  • Widespread muscle soreness

  • Slow and incomplete recovery

  • Tired and heavy legs

  • Chronic fatigue

  • Irritability

  • Mood swings

  • Loss of motivation

  • Changes in appetite (decrease or increase)

  • Plateau or decline in performance

  • Sleep problems

  • Increasing need for sleep

  • Elevated heart rate

If you notice five or more of these symptoms, you should take a 10-day break from training. You should also reconsider your weekly training plan to include rest phases.

IF THINGS DON’T IMPROVE

We recommend seeing a doctor. You should not underestimate symptoms of fatigue because there is a much higher chance of injury. The more serious the injury, the longer it will take to recover.