By Niamh Flynn Any runner who has experienced an unexpected and sudden decrease in performance and a lack of interest in running will no doubt have considered the idea that they are experiencing burnout. Burnout with respect to sport refers to the presence of physical and psychological exhaustion resulting in a reduction of performance. The symptoms of burnout are well documented and obvious. There are several possible causes and four models which endeavour to surmise how burnout occurs.
The simplest model denotes that there is a fine line between training which is productive in terms of psychological and physiological markers and training which is counterproductive and subsequently leads to burnout.
Another theory about burnout considers the athletes personality as playing a role in the possible development of burnout. Given this theory the premise is that the athlete regards their ability to cope with the demands of a given situation as inadequate. When this presupposition is registered at cognitive level it is then thought to lead to a physiological response and the psychological signs of burnout such as lack of energy, general fatigue and lack of confidence.
The remaining models of burnout consider the possibility of burnout as a social problem and burnout as a result of the athlete feeling as though they are not getting sufficient benefit from their sport when the psychological and physiological price of participation are considered.
Burnout can be identified quite easily by a sport psychologist and interventions will depend on the specific defining symptoms which the athlete presents with. Once the athlete has acknowledged that they have burnout and this has been brought to the attention of management steps can be taken to reverse the effects.
Some athletes will require a break from their sport. Meditation, yoga, and a variety of other relaxation techniques are also useful in many situations. For a runner who is suffering burnout it may involve a complete withdrawal from running for a few days or longer, a change in training schedule or any other number or combination of interventions, the structure of which should be agreed between the athlete, sport psychologist and coach.
Niamh Flynn, director of Bodywatch Ltd, the successful Sport Psychology company.
https://www.bodywatch.ie
The symptoms of burnout are well documented and obvious. There are several possible causes and four models which endeavour to surmise how burnout occurs.
The simplest model denotes that there is a fine line between training which is productive in terms of psychological and physiological markers and training which is counterproductive and subsequently leads to burnout.
Another theory about burnout considers the athletes personality as playing a role in the possible development of burnout. Given this theory the premise is that the athlete regards their ability to cope with the demands of a given situation as inadequate. When this presupposition is registered at cognitive level it is then thought to lead to a physiological response and the psychological signs of burnout such as lack of energy, general fatigue and lack of confidence.
The remaining models of burnout consider the possibility of burnout as a social problem and burnout as a result of the athlete feeling as though they are not getting sufficient benefit from their sport when the psychological and physiological price of participation are considered.
Burnout can be identified quite easily by a sport psychologist and interventions will depend on the specific defining symptoms which the athlete presents with. Once the athlete has acknowledged that they have burnout and this has been brought to the attention of management steps can be taken to reverse the effects.
Some athletes will require a break from their sport. Meditation, yoga, and a variety of other relaxation techniques are also useful in many situations. For a runner who is suffering burnout it may involve a complete withdrawal from running for a few days or longer, a change in training schedule or any other number or combination of interventions, the structure of which should be agreed between the athlete, sport psychologist and coach.
Niamh Flynn, director of Bodywatch Ltd, the successful Sport Psychology company.
https://www.bodywatch.ie
