The College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at the University of Baghdad discussed a doctoral dissertation by Ameer Alaa Abdulqader, entitled “An Analytical Study of the Effect of Competition Load Based on Certain Biochemical, Functional, Physical, and Psychological Variables Associated with Overtraining Syndrome among Professional Football Players.”
The research aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of biochemical, functional, physical, and psychological variables to identify the different stages of Overtraining Syndrome (OTS) among players in the Iraqi Professional Football League during the 2023–2024 season.
The researcher adopted a descriptive survey and correlational approach to examine the balance between training stress and adequate recovery. Functional and physical demands were assessed during matches, while biochemical variables were measured immediately after matches and again after 72 hours of rest. Psychological status was also assessed during the first and second stages of the football season.
The findings indicated that OTS is not merely a hormonal disorder but reflects a genuine disruption in physiological adaptation mechanisms. The results also showed that creatine kinase (CK) was the most sensitive and accurate indicator for assessing muscle recovery, providing an important indication of progression toward OTS or non-functional overreaching (NFOR) when competition schedules exceed the athlete’s capacity for adequate recovery.
SDGs: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
