From the Experts
How Important is Rest and Recovery for Athletes?
For the success of any training program, rest and recovery both hold tremendous importance . However, these are not planned out effectively most of the time which can lead to overtraining syndrome —a condition when athletes work out harder without giving their bodies enough time to recover.
It’s important to balance overload and recovery during your training.
The Importance of Recovery
Recovery is very different from resting—a combination of the time spent sleeping and not training. It is the phase where you perform techniques and take measures to repair and restore your body. It targets two different systems—hormonal and structural.
Hormonal System
This is also referred to as the endocrine system which plays a great role in the coordination of bodily functions.
Any hormonal imbalance caused by stress can be catastrophic and needs to be avoided. If the body gets sufficient time to recover however, balance will be restored. This process can be aided with the use of targeted supplements for specific hormones.
Structural System
This system is a combination of muscles, ligaments, tendons and bones. Muscles are the first to recover as they are a direct part of the circulatory system. However, ligaments, bones and tendons take much more time to recover and can easily get overstressed due to excessive training. Rectification for this depends on the type of recovery being considered.
Short-Term Versus Long-Term Recovery
Short-Term Recovery
This type of recovery is also known as active recovery which is done directly after an intense workout. It refers to the light workout you do in the cooling phase, directly after the workout as well as a few days after. This helps in giving you the performance boost you need.
Another component of active recovery is the replenishment of energy stores and fluids that are lost during the exercise. This should be done directly after the workout as well. Ideal nutrition for this is protein. It helps in the prevention of muscular breakdown and allow for an increase in its size. This can be taken in the form of protein whey to ensure that a good amount of protein enters your system.
Long-Term Recovery
These techniques apply to those who are a part of seasonal trainings. These will include big chunks of recovery periods which are incorporated into the training schedule. During this process, multiple factors like workout intensity, time and distances are modified as well as the nutritious intake depending on the level of recovery you need.
If you’re an athlete and have not considered resting and recovery periods while planning your trainings, it’s a good idea to start now.
The first step for that is to get supplements and whey for your consumption, post-workout. We can help you with that. We offer premium quality products in our nutrition store in London, ON , to enable performance maximization.
Contact us now on 519-601-5911 or 519-601-9440 for further details.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended for the purpose of providing medical advice. All information, content, and material are for informational purposes only and are not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider.










