The Importance Rest & Recovery For Every Athlete

Many people tend to think that rest and recovery are same things when viewed from the prism of sports – and when practiced by athletes. People have been using both phrases ‘Are you recovering?’ and ‘Are you resting?’ to athletes – and although they are similar to the modern world, rest and recovery are not the same.

Rest Versus Recovery – The Big Difference

While recovery covers many behaviours to an athlete, resting means only one thing – refraining from exertion and being at peace or ease – inactive and to sleep. On the other hand, recovery can include movement, but is a restorative process in which the state of normality is regained, recovering an athlete to his/her full healthy and balance.

The term resting can include sleeping, napping or chilling on the couch. However, the term recovery is far more than taking a day off from training, and it always includes a deliberate execution of a proper plan tailored to the needs of the athlete.

What Happens During Rest And Recovery

While rest is a natural form of tranquility that we all share for the sake of our well-being, there are many interesting things happening in the recovery process for athletes. Moreover, the stress of exercise is the main factor that is being reduced within the recovery process – as the body adapts to a certain set of recovery time and evades overtraining and possible injuries.

 

The Short And Long Term Recovery

Every athlete should be fond of short-term and long-term recovery as the main two categories of recovery. While short-term recovery occurs immediately after an exercise is being finished (usually a more intense one), the long-term recovery techniques are the pieces of the big puzzle called a seasonal training program. They are definitely the aspect that is considered when preparing a certain form for an athlete, a special training program or a change in the exercise routine.

How To Balance Rest And Recovery

In the end, it is of utmost importance that every athlete balances rest and recovery in order to take a higher level of fitness. The simple formula is – the bigger the training intensity, the greater the need for planned recovery. Rest, on the other side, must always stay at a certain point, which is at least 7 to 9 hours of regular sleep every night in order to ensure optimal performance for every athlete.

 

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