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If overuse injury is a ‘training load error’, should undertraining be viewed the same way?

Gabbett, T.J., Kennelly, S., Sheehan, J., Hawkins, R., Milsom, J., King, E., Whiteley, R. and Ekstrand, J., 2016. If overuse injury is a ‘training load error’, should undertraining be viewed the same way?. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(17), pp.1017-1018.

In today’s letter

• 4 main takeaways from the study

• Full infographic for you to save and use in the future

• Rapid Results = Its importance to balance training loads to prevent overuse injuries in athletes. The increased risk of injury is linked to both excessive spikes and insufficient training load

• 3 resources to check out to further you knowledge about load management

• Meme of the week: We have all been there 😄 

Aim of the study

The Authors discussed how managing training loads can reduce the risk of overuse injuries in athletes

Balancing Training Loads Is Essential

When it comes to keeping athletes injury-free, the balance of training loads is one of the most critical aspects to get right ✅

While it’s easy to think injuries mostly result from overdoing it, underloading is just as problematic. Too little activity leaves the body unprepared for future stress, weakening its resilience to high-intensity movements and increasing the risk of potential injury.

On the flip side, a sudden increase in training after a period of relative rest—like jumping into intense drills after a light training week or recovering from injury—can be particularly risky.

The body doesn’t have time to adjust, and this shock can lead to strains or stress-related injuries. A balanced approach, therefore, isn’t about keeping training at a steady level but adjusting loads in a way that respects the athlete’s recent workload and conditioning.

The aim is to increase resilience gradually, building a base that can safely handle the demands of both training and competition. 🎯

The Acute-to-Chronic Workload Ratio Is a Guideline,Not a Rule

The Acute-to-Chronic Workload Ratio (ACWR) can be a useful metric, giving coaches and trainers a sense of when workload changes might pose a risk.

But it’s not a hard rule.

The ACWR is a metric used to assess an athlete's training loads by comparing the intensity of their recent training (acute workload) to their longer-term training levels (chronic workload).

Specifically, it is calculated by dividing the average workload from the past week (acute) by the average workload from the previous four weeks (chronic).

Every athlete has a unique response to training and stress based on factors like:

1. Previous injuries

2. Training history

3. Recovery rates

4. Physical and psychological resilience.

A ratio of 1.5 or higher indicates an increased risk of injury, but it doesn’t mean injury is inevitable. Some athletes can handle more stress without issue, while others need a more conservative approach.

Using ACWR as a flexible guideline rather than a strict threshold, can help fine-tune training loads to each athlete's needs.

Observing how each athlete responds—both physically and mentally—should inform whether they need rest, maintenance, or progression

Align Training with Competition Demands

In the heat of competition, athletes may be required to perform at a much higher intensity than they do in training 🔥

If their training only prepares them for the “average” competition scenario, they will, most likely, be unprepared for high-stress moments when their intensity needs to spike suddenly.

For example, over time or change of game schedule etc.

The mismatch between training loads and competition demands can leave athletes at risk for fatigue-related injuries and even impact their confidence in high-stakes moments.

To prepare them fully, training should include sessions that mimic the toughest phases of competition—like bursts of sprints, unpredictable direction changes, and sustained high-intensity drills.

This way, athletes not only become physically resilient to top level demands but also mentally prepared to push through in game scenarios. Tailoring training to meet and exceed competitive demands can help both injury prevention and performance.

Athletes Role in Off-Season

The off-season is often seen as a time for rest, but it’s actually an important period for maintaining the base level of conditioning that prevents injuries.

Athletes who “switch off” completely risk returning deconditioned, meaning their body will have a harder time adapting to training loads when the season starts.

For performance staff, the off-season can be a tricky period to manage since athletes are often more independent. Providing off-season training plans, along with occasional check-ins or remote support, helps keep athletes engaged and on track.

Encouraging them to maintain a reasonable level of fitness during this time reduces the chance of injury when they transition back to in-season demands.

This preparation is especially helpful for maintaining conditioning, joint stability, and even mental readiness, all of which play a role in safe and effective training when the season kicks off.

Clinical tip

Education:
Encourage athletes to sustain a minimum level of workload during their off-season to help prevent deconditioning.

Explain that this baseline training helps them return to structured training better prepared, reducing the risk of injury as workloads increase.

Top 3 Resources to Check out

And further you knowledge about load management

1. Work load management - Have a peak as this is gold for anyone working in sport (PDF) - LINK 🌀

2. Load monitoring (Article) - LINK 📝

3. Work load monitoring & performance increase (Video)

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