Use of Post-Exercise Recovery Strategies in Team and Individual Sports

INTRODUCTION The study aims to identify perceptions of recovery and actual post-exercise recovery utilized by team and individual athletes in Far North Queensland. METHODS The recovery techniques used by team and individual sport athletes of different competition levels was investigated by survey. Specifically, this study investigated if, when, why and how the following recovery strategies were used: active land-based recovery (ALB), active water-based recovery (AWB), stretching (STR), cold water immersion (CWI) and contrast water therapy (CWT). RESULTS Seventy-eight athletes (47 male: 31 female) mean age 25.59 ±8.48 yrs completed survey. Local competition was most represented (44%), followed by state (37%), regional (13%), national (5%) and international (1%). Rugby league/ruby union were the most represented team sport (42%), followed by soccer (16%), AFL (6%), netball (6%) and remaining team sports (8%). Individual sports (24%) included swimming, running, and ultra-marathon. A total of 84% of participants self-reported performing a recovery strategy following either competition, after pre-season training or after in-season training. Most popular recovery methods, stretch (28%), ice bath (26%), massage (14%) and sleep (10%). Stretching was the most effective recovery strategy, with 38% ‘always’ performing stretching after a game, 36% during pre-season training and 40% in season training. Self-report by athletes was suggestive of the more physiological being the most important, stating that the strategies helped speed up recovery, increase blood flow, decrease inflammation, swelling and soreness. CONCLUSION To date the survey data suggests athletes reporting why they believe recovery strategies are effective/ineffective are more aware of the physiological recovery aspects, and less so on psychological aspects. This suggests potential targeted education on psychological aspects of recovery and recovery related to heat and humidity aspects to assist in developing best practice guidelines and education for athletes and coaches.