The Hazards of Over-Training

Physical training is something that is integral to success in a vast majority of sports. Being at the ideal physical condition for a particular sport, or at least as close to it as possible, is something that athletes in a competitive environment want to be in. They can go to extreme levels, enduring the most insane training exercises and diet regimen just to hit that peak. However, there are times when the training goes beyond what can be considered healthy, even causing some damage to the internal workings of the body. Muscle spasms, lower back pain, fatigue, and knee pain are just a few of the many possible injuries one can get when the body is forced to work beyond its normal capacity.
The muscles are generally the first parts of the body that are damaged when people take their training way too seriously, with muscle spasms and excessive muscle tension being the initial symptoms. The use of muscle relaxants may sometimes be prescribed to combat these problems, though others may prefer to take an over-the-counter pain killer to just dull the pain. However, ignoring or misdiagnosing these muscle pains can result in aggravated problems. Muscle tissue can be torn and tendons as well as ligaments can be injured. No matter how toned and how strong you make your muscles by training them, there are limits to how much they can endure. The more strenuous a particular exercise or physical activity is --- the greater the risk for injuries. When your quads get strained or you can't flex your arms without screaming in pain, simple muscle spasms are going to be the least of your problems.
Fatigue is also a major concern. The state of fatigue can make additional training difficult and, much worse, it can even take a toll on one's personal life. The natural response to the onset of fatigue is to find a comfortable place to just sit back and rest. However, there are times when taking a rest isn't an option. A person might have an important appointment to attend to that would force him to stay awake for an extended period, aggravating the already weary state of his body. The consequences of this can also extend to the person's mental state, with slower reactions times and incoherent thought processes being not that uncommon.
For other sports, more overt injuries like knee pain and torn muscles are real risks that make physical training a carefully navigated exercise. Any activity that involves lifting weights that exert a large amount of pressure on the muscles can result in injury. Too much weightlifting, for example, has sometimes been known to cause lower back pain. As the weight is lifted upwards by the arms, gravity is pulling the weight down and most of the pressure concentrates on the lifter's lower back, with injury being a definite possibility if the weight is suspended for too long.
The easiest way to avoid the above problems is to have a training program designed specifically for your build, with the stress and weights calculated so that they challenge the muscles, but not overexert them. Feeling a little pain when in training is understandable at the start, but if the pain is chronic, it is best that you seek the advice of a medical professional. Don't wait until you develop a tolerance for pain killers and muscle relaxants to have your body examined for possible injuries or problems.