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Introduction Wrestling is a competitive and intermittent combat sport characterised mainly by strength components. Few researchers have examined nonfunctional overreaching in strength-based athletes, such as wrestlers, despite being prevalent. To prevent the more severe condition of overtraining syndrome, it is important to detect early maladaptation, i.e., nonfunctional overreaching. Due to its complex nature, most studies have not managed to develop nonfunctional overreaching conditions in athletes. The purpose of this review is to broadly summarize previous research on functional overreaching, nonfunctional overreaching, and overtraining syndrome to examine useful methods to assess nonfuntional overreaching in wrestlers.

Method Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science were used with various combinations of nonfuntional overreaching OR overreaching OR overtraining syndrome. Subjective and objective methods that could be useful to adapt to wrestling to assess nonfunctional overreaching were summarized and discussed. Studies conducted on athletes or physically active individuals in various sports engaging in seasonal training or a moderate to high-intensity training intervention of at least six days or are nonfunctionally overreached were included. Included studies are published original articles and reviews.

Results There are few studies on wrestlers regarding nonfunctional overreaching. Biochemical and physiological factors have been inconsistent, a relation between nonfunctional overreaching and decrements in maximal muscular strength and vertical jump height have been reported. Profile of Mood States, Perceived Recovery Status, and Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes have been successfully used to detect nonfunctional overreaching, only the latter being a comprehensive enough monitoring tool.

Conclusion To adequately assess nonfunctional overreaching in wrestlers, psychological tools together with performance testing with baseline and follow-up values are emphasised. As specific objective or subjective markers seem to be lacking, coaches should use an individual approach when monitoring wrestlers. Consequently, more studies are needed to determine the validity and reliability of these methods in assessing nonfunctional overreaching in wrestlers.