Most athletes spend a lot of time devising their training regimes to help keep their bodies in shape. They may include exercises that can be performed with high-intensity gym equipment like our Elite Strength System, to get the most out of a full body workout. However, top athletes and fitness enthusiasts know that there is only so much the body can endure before it collapses. Our bodies repair and strengthen in the time between workouts, and continuous training can actually weaken the strongest athletes.
Fitness Consultant Elizabeth Quinn recommends adding recovery time into training programs because “[It] is the time that the body adapts to the stress of exercise and the real training effect takes place.” Our ‘Top Fitness Trends’ post discusses high intensity body weight training, strength training, and functional fitness but all require some serious recovery time.
With the importance of recovery time for you to get the best results from your training routine, here’s a list of high-tech, innovative, and lesser-known recovery techniques to help you recuperate after a serious workout.
Elliptical Machines
When suffering a leg or knee injury, most athletes are forced into resting up for days or even weeks, depending on the severity. But being an athlete or even a fitness enthusiast doesn’t stop with an injury. As a result, trainers and doctors recommend low-impact workouts like swimming, yoga and in some cases, walking. Elliptical machines like our SCT400g Seated Elliptical Cross Trainer mimic walking perfectly but with minimal impact, making the exercise easier on the joints, particularly on the knees. Some elliptical machines also come with movable upper body handles for a low-impact upper body workout.
Hyperbaric Therapy
Hyperbaric Oxygen is a type of therapy that increases the amount of oxygen the blood absorbs in order to carry it to injured or affected muscle tissue. It involves exposing the body to 100% oxygen at a pressure that is greater than normal. The extra oxygen allows athletes to recover from exhaustion quickly and perform impossible feats. In fact, basketball legend LeBron James notes how it helps enhance his body’s natural healing process and beat exhaustion. He maintains that his body should recover quickly after every match, with which this recovery technique helps. James is currently one of the top earners in the sports world and is one of the most recognizable basketball stars on the planet. The four-time MVP’s athletic body is a result of hard work and dedication to his training, as well as a serious recovery routine.
Keep in mind that Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is generally a safe procedure even for non-athletes; however, you still need to be assessed and accepted for therapy by a specialist who can prescribe you a proper course of treatment.
Blood Flow Therapy
Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) helps athletes increase muscle strength and mass with minimal loading. During BFR training, a patient or athlete straps on an elastic band around the upper portions of their arm or leg and performs high repetitions of a particular exercise. BFR is also useful for those recovering from surgery, injury, or immobilization and can help combat muscular disuse atrophy and associated muscle weaknesses.
While BFR is also a good recovery technique, it will be more effective with an individual training plan by a licensed professional. This will also help minimize risk and strengthen BFR’s effects.
Sleep
After a long day in the gym, sometimes the easiest and most effective solution is to get some sleep. If you’re working out to gain muscle mass or improve muscle tone, Sleep Advisor recommends sleeping right after your session. Taking a nap or going to bed after an intense anaerobic workout allows your body time to repair and triggers the growth of lean muscle tissue. However, if you’ve just finished performing some alternative routines like cardiovascular exercises, sleep does not provide any additional benefits. As a matter of fact, you probably won’t be able to sleep straightaway – exercise in general triggers your body to release endorphins and other chemicals to make you more alert and energetic.
Written by Guest Blogger Alisha Therese
Content intended only for the use of bodycraft.com