11/08/2020
Recovery is a key element to training and competition. There are many strategies that different individuals and sports utilise in effort to recover as quickly as possible in order to train at their best without the effects from the previous stresses placed upon the body.
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Sleep is essential for recovery from physical and mental stressors. It can aid performance, it can aid healing, it can help with mood, diet, socialising, and health. Studies have shown that sleep reduction in athletes causes a higher physiological demand for physical performance, meaning your body must work harder to complete a task than it would if you were not sleep deprived. If you are interested in learning more about sleep and what it can effect then a great book to read is: Why we sleep, Matthew Walker.
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Nutrition is another factor of recovery that is of high importance. Again this may be the recovery from training or from injury. When you become injured your dietary needs may change in order for you to get the best out of your body.
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Mobility is a term used widely within sporting populations. Everyone has their preferred method of helping their muscles and bodies to recover following intense training sessions or competitions and the key thing is finding what works for you. The evidence in this area is poor, but that is not to say it doesn’t work.
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Hydration is widely known to be important for all aspects of life. However it is very easy to become dehydrated and this can impair your sporting and academic performance, increase your recovery time, and seriously affect your health if you become severely dehydrated.
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*DISCLAIMER: I am not a nutritionist. For nutritional advice please contact a nutritionist or dietician*
