Maximising the performance capacity of an athlete is not just a matter of training, it also depends on an optimal balance between training and recovery. It is crucial that accumulated psychological and physiological stresses that could invoke maladaptive changes induced by training load are prevented.
Competition and training can induce repeated eccentric contractions and tissue vibrations that can lead to muscle damage, subsequent tissue inflammation, delayed onset muscle soreness, and increased perceived fatigue. All these factors can then have a temporary reduction in muscular force, a disturbed sense of joint position, decreased physical performance, and/or an increased risk of injury.
So what do you need to do? You need to optimise recovery! A brief recovery period between training sessions may not be sufficient in restoring metabolic balance, increasing the likelihood of injury. Therefore the choice of recovery techniques is of utmost importance so the athlete feels rested, not fatigued, healthy and injury-free.
In my next blog I will discuss what kind of recovery interventions are most effective in improving recovery after exercise.
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