Ask The Expert: How Important Is Sports Recovery For Our Overall Health?

Whether you’re a pro athlete or a frequent gym-goer, it’s important to balance moments of activity with periods of rest and recovery. But where do we start? Lauren Berlingeri and Katie Kaps, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of HigherDOSE, answer all of our questions surrounding sports recovery and wellness technology.

A Guide To Sports Recovery (& Why It’s Important)

What does rest and recovery mean in sport?

Recovery means allowing the muscles to tear and rebuild, reducing inflammation and improving performance adjacent health markers like sleep, mood and stress. It’s important to recover between efforts in order to prevent injury and maximize peak performance while playing sports or exercising.

Are there different types of recovery?

There’s many types of recovery markers for fitness and athletics including:

• Heart rate
• Sleep
• Range of motion
• Muscle

Does recovery always equate to relaxation?

Recovery can mean relaxation, or, in certain therapies like contrast you’re recovering with an ice bath that may induce temporary discomfort for long term muscle benefits.

How do athletes usually begin a period of recovery?

Usually athletes begin with cooling down, stretching, hydrating, intaking nutrition, resting, getting a massage and focusing on improving biomarkers.

Long-term recovery will look slightly different. While most recovery plans are tailored individually, most athletes recommend contrast therapy, lymphatic massage, compression garments, deep stretching and physical therapy for recovery routines.

Does their diet change?

Yes, usually. Recovery diets include carbohydrates and high protein to replenish glycogen, intake protein and support muscle growth.

What roles do oxygen and water play in sport/exercise performance and recovery?

Using hyperbaric chambers can further oxygenate the bloodstream and promote better lung capacity, which supports training and recovery. As well as this, hydrotherapy can be beneficial, especially when combined with hot and cold temperatures.

Is massage an effective sports recovery strategy?

Massage, especially deep tissue, reduces buildup of lactic acid and stiffness for athletes, making it ideal for physical recovery.

How is technology improving sports recovery?

Technology generally is making recovery a much easier process – and more accessible during daily life – and is something we specialise in at HigherDOSE. Technologies like our sauna blanket and Infrared PEMF Mats make recovery easy to do on the road or at home. Infrared especially is extremely beneficial in reducing pain, inflammation and stress. The Pro and Go Mats can also be used in conjunction with bodywork, amplifying the benefits of massage, while improving muscle growth with Pulsed Electro Magnetic Field Therapy, the technology NASA uses to recuperate astronauts after orbit.

How can athletes optimise their recovery strategy?

Consistency is key. So having portable products allows for commitment to your plan. The sauna blanket further supports detoxification, eliminating free radicals from the system, that can impact overall performance and recovery. Though not an obvious marker, athletes can improve their overall health by incorporating a sauna blanket into their routine to double their dose of detox and muscle growth.

What advice would you give someone preparing to enter a period of recovery?

Don’t underestimate the power of sleep. The body heals itself naturally during REM, so incorporating infrared to support better sleep cycles further amplifies overall recovery.

Is there anything else we should know?

Even if you’re not a pro athlete, you can recover like one at home with the help of wellness tech. This is beneficial for anyone on a vitality journey, but especially if you enjoy working out and physical fitness.

About The Expert

Lauren Berlingeri and Katie Kaps are the Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of the wellness technology self-care brand, HigherDOSE. As two female biohackers, they’re passionate about inviting more people into the biohacking world through self-care, holistic recovery and wellness tools designed to ignite vitality from the inside out. HigherDOSE cultivates at-home wellness tools using nature-inspired technologies to release a DOSE of feel-good chemicals – Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins – that elevate your mood, promote a healthy glow, support long-term health benefits, and lift your spirit. higherdose.com

Images courtesy of HigherDOSE