Completion of a Strength Training-Based Planned Overreach: Perceptions and Experiences From the Perspective of the Highly Trained Individual

Planned overreaching (POR) is a short-term training strategy employed by well-trained strength athletes to induce physiological adaptations in preparation for competition. Due to its challenging nature, it is common for athletes to experience psychophysiological fatigue both during and in the days/weeks following POR. For coaches, this is an accepted part of the training process, and an increase in fatigue is not considered to be problematic. However, little is known about POR from the perspective of the athlete. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the experiences of highly trained individuals participating in POR. With ethical approval, 8 highly trained male participants (7.0 ± 3.2 years of resistance exercise training experience and a relative (to body mass) parallel barbell back squat of 1.9 ± 0.4 kg/body mass) completed a 5-day POR consisting of high-volume, high-intensity back squats. A detailed explanation of the POR protocol has been published elsewhere (Bell et al., 2025, Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 10, 2). Upon completion of the protocol, participants completed a semi-structured interview to explore their experiences. Reflexive thematic analysis resulted in the identification of five higher order themes: expectations, concerns, support, performance, and impact. Additional subthemes were created to facilitate organisation and presentation of data, and to aid both cohesiveness of reporting and publicising of results. Before POR, some participants experienced feelings of anxiety and apprehension. Many perceived an opportunity to test their physical and psychological resolve and were motivated by the opportunity to increase their strength performance. During (and in the days following) POR, athletes experienced increased feelings of muscle soreness, fatigue and exhaustion, as well as decrements in wellbeing and strength performance. At times, this impacted aspects of daily life; blunted energy and concentration levels, reduced productivity, loss of appetite, and negative alterations in sleep quality. Coaches and sports scientists can utilise information obtained from this study to refine the training process, inform monitoring and readiness systems, and to better understand athlete experiences during POR.