Sports fatigue
Overwhelming sustained feeling of exhaustion and decreased capacity to complete physical exercise
HCA UK sports medicine specialists can diagnose and treat sports fatigue and any underlying conditions
About sports fatigue
Need to know
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What are the symptoms of sports fatigue? icon plus
Sports fatigue may be caused by chronic overtraining, long periods without planned recovery or rest, the wrong type of diet, lack of hydration and increased stress. Chronic overtraining symptoms are:
- tiredness
- altered sleep patterns
- reduced sporting performance
- longer recovery times
- feeling moody
- unusual heart rate at rest or during exercise
- more injuries than usual
Acute fatigue is where your body isn't conditioned enough and cannot cope with the exercise. You may experience cramping and sore muscles a few days after exercise, or you may simply 'hit a wall'. This is often the case with long distance running.
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How is sports fatigue diagnosed? icon plus
Your consultant will discuss your sports fatigue symptoms with you and help make a diagnosis. They may order tests to rule out any underlying issues, such as infections, anaemia and iron deficiency.
Heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnoea and thyroid problems may also be investigated. They will also ask about your training schedule, diet and rest patterns to determine the actual cause.
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Potential treatment options icon plus
If you have an underlying health condition, you may be referred to a specialist for further treatment. Otherwise, your fatigue may be cause by over-training.
Your consultant will help you strike the right balance between training and recovery to improve the symptoms. You may also see a dietician, to make sure you're getting appropriate nutrition.
Our sports and exercise consultants
Our sports and exercise specialists work with professional athletes, high level amateurs and every day sporting participants.
Our locations
From complex sports related surgery to diagnostic tests and procedures, we provide exceptional sports medicine care across our network of hospitals, outpatient centres and specialist clinics
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Institute of Sport Exercise and Health (ISEH)
170 Tottenham Court Road
London
W1T 7HA
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HCA UK at The Shard
The Shard
32 St Thomas Street
London SE1 9BS
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The Wellington Hospital
Wellington Place
St John's Wood
London NW8 9LE
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London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street
London
SE1 2PR
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The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place
London W1U 5NY
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Chelsea Outpatients
272 & 280 Kings Road
London SW3 5AW
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HCA UK City of London - 31 Old Broad Street
London
EC2N 1HT
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The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road
London
SW1W 8RH
Request a Sports Medicine appointment
We're happy to help you make an appointment with one of our experienced sports medicine consultants. We can also make appointments for outpatients physiotherapy.