What the study found
Intensified training reduced endurance and worsened reported stress and recovery; endurance returned to baseline after the taper, with several questionnaire measures also normalizing.
Participants and protocol
Twenty semiprofessional rugby league players were randomized to six weeks of normal or intensified training followed by a seven-day taper.
What this cannot establish
A small team-sport trial does not establish a fixed recovery time for endurance athletes. Questionnaires can add context but cannot diagnose overtraining or replace assessment of persistent symptoms.
Publication details
- Record
- PubMed 18712214
- Publication types
- Comparative Study · Randomized Controlled Trial
- Indexed subjects
- Stress, Psychological · Competitive Behavior · Sleep · Health Status · Oxygen Consumption
- Source record checked
- 2026-10-18
Publication type and subject indexing describe the record; they are not a quality grade or proof of a benefit. An abstract does not replace a review of the full methods and results.
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Performance Science Lab
Research summaries for endurance athletes, with study context, practical protocols, and clear limitations.
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