“Anyone can train hard. Do you have the discipline to recover?”
~Lauren Fleshman
Whenever a client complains of soreness
after a tough workout, my go to line is always “Get in the pool!”
Why?
Active recovery in the water is one of
the best ways to reduce muscle soreness and stiffness. The hydrostatic pressure can help reduce
swelling by promoting circulation.
Exercising in the pool is unique in
that water assists, supports, and resists.
Assists
Water assists movements to improve
flexibility. Many clients can do
exercises to stretch muscles in the pool that they cannot do on land. Even better if the water is 88+ degrees!
Supports
Buoyancy of the water and the strength
of your core allow you to perform exercises in the deep end with minimal impact
on the joints. Exercising in a non-weight
bearing environment helps reduce pain while focusing on active recovery.
Resists
Not only does the water help to improve
flexibility and reduce pain, resistance in all directions helps to develop
strength. Increase resistance by adding
equipment like ankle cuffs, resistance gloves, and long tubing.
[Related Posts: Recovery Tip #1: Ice Baths & Recovery Tip #2: Foam Roll]
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