After an intense workout, your muscles need proper recovery to be able to heal and repair the damage done during your sweat session such as torn muscle tissue. Although two of the most important elements of performance and exercise are rest and solid nutrition, your body also needs to reduce the effects of DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness), eliminate inflammation and loosen areas that have tightened up. This is where incorporating recovery gadgets into your fitness regimen can take your training and performance to the next level. Not to mention, lessening the chances of encountering an injury.
From increasing circulation to reducing post-workout soreness, giving your muscles the attention they need after a killer workout will have you back in the gym the next day versus hitting the couch because your soreness has you waddling like a duck.
Recovery is under the umbrella of import actions we need to take to propel us forward in our fitness journey: proper sleep, clean nutrition, hydration, and engaging in active ways to help your body be the best it can be. These recovery gadgets will help you bounce back faster, break that PR, and steer clear of setbacks.
Nothing compares to sleep when it comes to full-body recovery. Sleep better and recover faster with the ArcticLUX 3-inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper. Designed to work with your existing mattress, this recovery encouraging mattress topper is perfect for those looking to get a restful night sleep, especially after an intense gym-session. With temperature regulating cooling fibers for the most restorative sleep possible, the unique properties of the memory foam help relieve pressure from the heavier parts of your body like your head, shoulders and hips.
Good news: You can now reap the recovery benefits of massage without breaking the bank. And what’s better than a lower body massage after leg day? Vibro’s leg and foot massager has 10 levels of pressure; from light all the way to deep tissue encouraging blood flow, better circulation, and removing tension from newly worked muscles. Researchers from Ohio State University and the University of Pittsburgh found that massage “increases the percentage of regenerating muscle fibers,” especially when done immediately after exercise. By helping stretch and relax muscle fibers, massage improves flexibility and assists in injury prevention by working out muscle knots and muscle adhesions caused by training with higher volume and heavier weights.
Relax into recovery with a warm blanket. Sound too good to be true? It’s not. Infrared sauna blankets use light to make heat which warms your body directly without heating the air around you. What this means is, your body will experience better circulation from the warmth, and that will deliver oxygen to your organs more effectively. This also assists in pain management for sore muscles post-workout as the warmth helps relax your muscles and the increased blood flow helps heal torn muscle fibers.
Have you ever tried to get rid of your post-workout knots from your back with a tennis ball and a wall? If so, you know how many times that ball hit the floor. With the Vertiball you’ll be able to focus on releasing trigger points that cause tension and pain rather than being distracted by the placement of the ball. Breaking up knots and tension that accumulated in the muscles aids massively in the recovery process; it helps move the lactic acid out of the muscle bed to be flushed out, and helps protect against injury due to lack of tightness; plus, it feels great!
Ice therapy may not have been at the top of your list of things to try early in 2021, but rest assured, the benefits far outweigh the instant shock of cold water. Not only does cold therapy reduce inflammation and pain by constricting blood flow to muscles, but it also reduces swelling and muscle spasms by temporarily reducing nerve activity. Science shows that cold therapy training tools also provides systemic anti-inflammatory relief, increases positive immune response, and parasympathetic nervous system stimulation; making an Ice Barrel a fantastic addition to your at-home recovery routine!
The lymphatic system (which is a part of the immune and circulatory system) is the network of vessels through which lymph drains from the tissues into the blood. When your lymphatic system functions normally, you feel healthy and strong, but, when it’s compromised, you can experience swelling and feel worn out or sluggish and it can make recovering harder. After a workout, lymph vessels can become overwhelmed and fluid can pool up in the body because your lymph has no “pump.” This is why it’s important to help flush out the fluid as recovery time can be decreased drastically.
A study conducted on the effects of lymphatic drainage and post-workout recovery shows that lymphatic drainage can also reduce lactic acid build-up in your muscles. The Crystal wand has a solid stone and ergonomic design to support effective lymphatic drainage while using vibration plus massage to boost micro-circulation; drawing nutrients to the skin which helps ease muscle tension and release endorphins.
