Which of the following is a psychological marker of overtraining?

Which of the following is a psychological marker of overtraining?

• A. Tension
• B. Increased motivation
• C. Improved mood
• D. Enhanced alertness

Answer: (A)

Overtraining can create a persistent psychological strain, and a key sign is increased tension. This means the athlete feels more aroused, tense, irritable, and on edge, with restlessness and muscle tightness that don’t settle even with rest. It reflects the body’s stress response staying elevated due to excessive training load relative to recovery. In contrast, states like higher motivation, better mood, or sharper alertness usually indicate positive adaptation or adequate recovery, not the fatigue and mood disruption seen with overtraining. So, heightened tension best fits the pattern of psychological distress associated with this condition.

Overtraining can create a persistent psychological strain, and a key sign is increased tension. This means the athlete feels more aroused, tense, irritable, and on edge, with restlessness and muscle tightness that don’t settle even with rest. It reflects the body’s stress response staying elevated due to excessive training load relative to recovery. In contrast, states like higher motivation, better mood, or sharper alertness usually indicate positive adaptation or adequate recovery, not the fatigue and mood disruption seen with overtraining. So, heightened tension best fits the pattern of psychological distress associated with this condition.