Active Recovery for Better Workouts

Here's why you should keep moving between sets -- and in the days following a hard workout or competition:

(sportsmedicine.about.com) - Low intensity exercise may be better than complete rest after competition...

After athletic competition or a hard workout it would seem that complete rest would be the best way to encourage recovery. However, research is beginning to find some advantages in active recovery. Two forms of active recovery include the cool down phase that occurs immediately after a hard effort. The second form of active recovery includes the days following the event. Research is accumulating on the benefits of both types of active recovery.

One study published in Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise found that active recovery immediately after the event encourages recovery and reduces muscle lactate levels faster than complete rest. After hard intervals, one group rested completely while a second group exercised at 30% intensity between intervals. The active group reduced blood lactate levels faster & could achieve a higher power output throughout the workout.

Many athletes are very interested in the best way to speed recovery and more and more is being written about fast recover after high intensity exercise. Active recovery is becoming a common and basic part of athlete's training schedules.

Another study found that the addition of low intensity exercise to the rest period after competition did not adversely affect physiological recovery and had a significantly beneficial effect on psychological recovery by enhancing relaxation.

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