Active recovery, your best ally for progress

⌛ Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

In the world of sports, recovery is often synonymous with complete rest. However, one method is gaining popularity for its many benefits: active recovery. This concept, which involves incorporating light activities after intense training sessions, offers a dynamic alternative to passive rest. IZOM Athletics explains!

What is active recovery? 

Active recovery refers to low-intensity physical activities performed after a sustained effort. Unlike complete rest, it involves gentle movements such as walking, low-intensity cycling, yoga, or even simple stretching. The idea is to stimulate Maintaining blood circulation without putting additional stress on tired muscles is essential. Some athletes, for example, use natural tools like heat treatments to facilitate this step.

One of the main benefits of active recovery is improved blood circulation. This helps more efficiently remove lactic acid and other metabolic waste products accumulated during intense exercise. As a result, this can reduce muscle stiffness and speed up the healing process.

By keeping joints moving, active recovery can also help prevent injuries. Light activities keep muscles and joints flexible, reducing the risk of injury during subsequent workouts.

Subsequent performance improvement

Studies show that active recovery can improve performance in subsequent training sessions. By allowing for faster lactic acid removal, athletes can experience increased endurance and better overall performance.

Active recovery also encourages a regular exercise routine. By incorporating light activities on rest days, athletes can maintain consistency, which is often crucial for long-term development.

Reduced stress and improved well-being

Engaging the body in light activities can also have beneficial effects on mental health. It can help reduce stress and improve mood, providing a mental respite from the intensity of regular workouts.

The frequency and duration of active recovery sessions should be adjusted based on the intensity and volume of your main workout. Generally, 20 to 30 minutes of light activity is enough to achieve the benefits without further straining your body.

By adopting active recovery, athletes of all levels can not only improve their performance but also their overall well-being. It's with this in mind that we developed IZOM Athletics : care designed to support athletes before and after exercise, with ease.

Ready to take action? Discover our refillable heating balm and join the community of athletes optimizing their recovery with IZOM.