Sawamura, S., Raglin, J., Alexiou, S., Hassmen, P., & Kentta, G. (1998). Training practices and staleness in age-group swimmers: A cross-cultural study. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 30(5), Supplement abstract 503.

Training practices, staleness, and staleness symptoms were compared across several countries for age-group swimmers (Japan = 41; USA = 43; Greece = 111, Sweden = 22).

It was found that symptoms of staleness were consistent across countries. The commonest symptom was perception of training effort followed by a feeling of heaviness. Disruptions in sleep and appetite were less common. Mood disturbance was elevated during overtraining excepting for Japanese swimmers.

The percentage of young swimmers who reported staleness was comparable to the percentage of adult non-elite athletes reporting similarly.

Implication. Staleness/overtraining is symptomatically similar in age group and adult training populations.

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