Whether you play recreationally, professionally, for exercise, or just for fun- sports have a wide variety of mental and physical benefits. While these benefits include improved sleep, improved lung function, can help to reduce stress, and many others, it’s important to pair any physical exercise with dedicated recovery time. Continue reading to learn more about the importance of recovery for athletes as well as simply maintaining your overall health.
Types of Muscle Recovery
Muscle recovery is best defined as “the improvement in the performance of skeletal muscles used during intense or prolonged exercise,” but what exactly does that mean for you? There are six common types of muscle recovery:
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- Passive Recovery – Think kicking your feet up on the couch and taking it easy!
- Active Recovery – A form of low-intensity exercise, such as walking or yoga.
- Cross-Training – Training different parts of your body so that not one muscle group is over fatigued.
- Myofascial Release – Ease your sore muscles with soft tissue therapy such as treating yourself to a massage, compression therapy, foam rolling, or kinesiology taping.
- Nutritional Recovery – Fueling your body with nutritional foods is key in seeing your hard work pay off! Stick to foods rich in antioxidants, whole carbohydrates, and lean protein.
- Sleep – Getting the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep allows for muscle recovery and restoration to occur properly.
By mixing and matching these muscle recovery techniques, you can ensure your body is getting the rest, release, and sleep it needs to keep you on top of your game!
Recovery at Restore
At Restore, it’s no secret that our mission is to restore your health while helping you reach your health goals which is why we offer a number of recovery services. For the past 10 years, Restore is proud to be the only medically managed recovery center serving the Main Line and surrounding areas!
Cryotherapy– Cryo is a technique of exposing your body to an extremely cold temperature for a few minutes, and research has found that it may be able to speed up recovery by reducing pain, inflammation, and muscle tiredness after strenuous activity.
Infrared Sauna– Seven times more detoxifying than a traditional sauna, the infrared sauna helps to increase blood flow and cardiovascular system, and can even be thought of as a passive recovery technique. Sit back, relax, and sweat!
Shockwave Therapy– Shockwave therapy stimulates the body’s natural healing process, so you can spend less time recovering! The pulses travel to the affected area and cause scar tissue, tenocytes, fibroblasts, osteocytes, chondrocytes, and endothelial cells to break down, provoking an inflammatory response which stimulates your body’s natural healing process.
PEMF Therapy– PEMF therapy uses low frequency electromagnetic waves to work on a cellular level to repair, re-energize, and detoxify damaged cells within the body. It helps to enhance cellular cellular repair and recovery, improve oxygenation in the tissues, improve circulation, and many other benefits.
The Bottom Line
Recovery is for everyone! If you don’t take the time to recover or follow a post-workout routine, you run the risk of injury or burnout. So be sure to take the time and preventative measures now, and your body will thank you later!
Ready to level up your game and recover faster? Schedule a recovery session at Restore today!
