Global and physiological considerations of recovery

What is recovery ? Why ? When and with what tools ? 

Recovery is a phenomenon which aims to restore the physiological and psychological capacities of each person after a major effort. It is specific to each athlete, personal and must be individualised in the structures that allow it in order to optimise it. The objective of each recovery activity should be to restore homeostasis and allow the individual to adapt to the stresses and strains encountered. It has been shown that severe muscle fatigue can significantly affect sports performance and joint stability, as well as increase the risk of sports injuries (1). At the same time, effective recovery from the intense training loads often faced by elite athletes can often determine sporting success or failure.

Physiologically, the existence of an adequate balance between stress (stress encountered during exercise) and recovery is essential for athletes to achieve continued high performance. Monitoring the recovery-fatigue continuum is the first step towards improving performance (2).

Thus, although muscle soreness is classified as a mild type of physiological damage, it is one of the most common reasons for muscle impairment. (3) This type of damage alters the body’s initial balances, increases tissue stiffness, alters ranges of motion, limits muscle activation, and may induce pain of varying degrees.

Psychologically, mental fatigue or cognitive exhaustion can mainly be compensated for by using psychological recovery strategies such as cognitive self-regulation or various psychological relaxation methods. On the mental side, it has been shown that factors such as concentration and motivation can similarly seriously affect physical performance (4).

It is therefore essential to optimise this recovery phase and this is why various ways of managing it are outlined in the articles in this tab.  

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