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Non-Functional Overreaching

Meaning

Non-Functional Overreaching (NFOR) is a state of intense, prolonged physical training that leads to a temporary decrease in performance capacity, lasting from several days to a few weeks, coupled with associated symptoms of fatigue, mood disturbance, and neuroendocrine dysregulation. Crucially, unlike the milder Functional Overreaching, NFOR does not result in a subsequent supercompensation or performance improvement, signaling a maladaptive physiological response to excessive stress. This condition often involves a disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary axes, directly impacting hormonal homeostasis.