The Aerobic Deficiency Syndrome

As the number of endurance athletes has dramatically increased through the latter part of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first, so has the injury rate. These problems are not just associated with physical injuries, but also those that affect body chemistry and even the brain. Athletes without a good aerobic base typically develop various signs and symptoms. The most common complaints heard from athletes include fatigue, increased body fat, mechanical injuries, hormonal imbalance, inadequate endurance, and poor performance. Carefully compiling these complaints, it becomes evident that these same athletes have one common feature: aerobic deficiency. Moreover, the aerobic deficiency syndrome (ADS) is a primary contributing factor to overtraining. Here are some of the important signs and symptoms associated with ADS:

 

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  • Fatigue. This is a very common complaint in athletes. This may also be related to numerous problems, but the lack of adequate fat burning due to poor aerobic function is very common. The result is more reliance on sugar for energy—not just during training but at all other times as well.
  • Increased body fat.This problem is associated with reduced fat burning, causing more fat from dietary carbohydrates and fat to be stored.
  • Chronic inflammation is one result of higher body fat. Chronic inflammation can also trigger certain injuries and ill health.
  • Physical injuries.These are often the result of poor aerobic muscle function because these muscles support our joints, bone, ligaments and other structures. Clinical observations reveal the most common areas of injury in athletes with ADS include the low back, knee, ankle, and foot.
  • Hormonal imbalance.This common problem interferes with many aspects of fitness and health. It is often associated with high levels of cortisol and low amounts of DHEA. High cortisol may trigger insomnia, high body fat, craving for sweets, and blood sugar irregularities, all with the potential to interfere with proper recovery. Low DHEA can result in low testosterone and other hormones. In women, premenstrual syndrome and menopausal symptoms may be complaints, and in men, low testosterone can adversely affect muscles and bones. Loss of normal sexual function can affect both men and women as a result of reduced sex hormones.
  • Reduced endurance.This is often seen with increasing fatigue, poor performance, loss of aerobic speed, and, in general, overtraining.
  • Nutritional imbalance.Dietary problems are often associated with ADS, especially in athletes who consume excess refined carbohydrates and have low fat and protein intakes. Other nutritional imbalances may also occur, such as low iron levels which adversely affect the “red” iron-dependent aerobic muscles.

Correction of the ADS is relatively easy. In general, building your fitness and health will accomplish this task. Perhaps the most important correction comes in building a good aerobic base. This is best accomplished by monitoring your heart rate, through the use of biofeedback device called a heart-rate monitor.

Some of this heart-rate monitor information is presented here because it’s a foundation of endurance training, with additional information about heart-rate monitoring in the next chapter. The heart rate is an important guide to further help individualize your training, enabling your brain and body to obtain maximum aerobic function, aerobic speed, and other benefits.