Musculoskeletal

What recovery tools would you recommend to athletes?

Key Recovery Tools for Athletes: Sleep, Diet, Hydration

This is a good question, it's a very common question in my experience. When people ask this question, it's almost like they're looking for a list of commercial products that they can buy like a massage gun or a norm attack or an egg, some device, they can buy that they think is going to make all the difference in the world for their recovery. And while there are a number of products like that that are beneficial and have some value, the Real Recovery tools that And humans in general need to prioritize our sleep diet, hydration. I know that seems very basic and probably a little cliche and unsatisfying but it's the cliche answer because it's true. Sleep is the time when your body is actually doing the work of recovery and healing and regeneration. So if you're not getting quality sleep, that's the first place to start. That's very low. Low-hanging fruit. Very easy to start to make those improvements. Diet is another big one. The number of professional athletes. I've worked with who think that fast food is acceptable fuel for their body would probably blow you away. So starting to prioritize whole unprocessed Foods getting enough protein enough, carbohydrates enough, water and electrolytes Um, all of those are much more low-hanging fruit than any type of device, you might buy. So, those are the places to start.

When people ask this question, they are often looking for a list of commercial products that they think will make a difference in their recovery. While these products can be beneficial, the key to real recovery is getting quality sleep, eating whole unprocessed foods, and staying hydrated with enough protein, carbohydrates, water, and electrolytes.

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When it comes to recovery tools for athletes, it's important to prioritize the fundamentals before considering any specific products. While commercial devices like massage guns or NormaTec boots can be beneficial, the real recovery tools that athletes need to focus on are sleep, diet, and hydration.

Quality sleep is essential for the body's recovery, healing, and regeneration processes. Improving sleep quality should be a top priority and is a relatively easy area to make improvements.

Diet plays a significant role in recovery as well. Many professional athletes underestimate the importance of fueling their bodies with whole, unprocessed foods. Prioritizing adequate protein, carbohydrates, water, and electrolytes is crucial for optimal recovery.

These fundamental aspects of recovery, such as sleep, diet, and hydration, are more important and accessible than any device you might purchase. So, start by focusing on these areas to support your recovery as an athlete.

Cryotherapy: Is it Worth the Hype or Just a Placebo Effect?

Great question KO. Let me preface my answer by saying the same thing I would say about a lot of different modalities. Which is that regardless of what I say, or anyone else regardless even of what science says, if you use something and you feel like it helps you, you feel like it works. It works even if it's just the placebo effect. At the end of the day, we're all running and of one experiments on ourselves so whether that's With our diet, with our training, with our recovery with cryotherapy, we have to figure out what works for us. So all of that being said, my personal opinion about cryotherapy is that for most people in most situations. It's probably a waste of time. It's generally pretty expensive. Pretty hard to get access to and its benefits. Generally are not much different than a cold. So, I'll give you an example. I worked in a facility that had open access to a cryotherapy chamber. The players could use it whenever they wanted and I never saw anyone use it. Ever guys would go to the cold tub. None of them ever went to the cryotherapy chamber. So I would say certainly try it. See if it works for you, but you'll probably get most, if not all. Tall. If not more of the same benefits simply with a bag of ice and a bucket of water.

Cryotherapy may or may not work for you, so it's best to try it and see if it feels beneficial. However, it is usually more expensive than just using a bucket of cold water and a bag of ice.

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When it comes to cryotherapy, my opinion is that for most people in most situations, it's likely a waste of time. While individual experiences may vary, and the placebo effect can play a role, the general benefits of cryotherapy are not significantly different from simply exposing yourself to cold temperatures.

Cryotherapy can be expensive and difficult to access. In my experience, even in a facility where players had open access to a cryotherapy chamber, I never saw anyone use it. They would opt for the cold tub instead.

I suggest giving cryotherapy a try if you're curious, as personal experiences can differ. However, you can likely achieve similar, if not better, results with a bag of ice and a bucket of water. Ultimately, we are all conducting experiments on ourselves to find what works best for us in terms of diet, training, recovery, and cryotherapy is no exception.

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Colin Diment answers your Musculoskeletal questions. See all the advice Colin Diment has and get answers to your own Musculoskeletal questions.

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Colin Diment is a Certified Athletic Trainer with a wealth of experience in sports medicine and performance therapy. He works with prestigious organizations and elite athletes to optimize performance and prevent injuries. Currently, Colin serves as a Certified Athletic Trainer for the Los Angeles Lakers and USA Track & Field. He has also held positions at the University of Michigan and Mississippi State University. His expertise and commitment contribute to the athletes' success in achieving their goals. Colin's passion for sports medicine and dedication to helping athletes reach their full potential have earned him a reputation as a skilled and reliable Certified Athletic Trainer.