ABSTRACT
In the current climate of elite sport, increasingly heavy fixture schedules and related commitments place a growing demand on athlete time and resource. As a result, there is a desire from athletes and coaches alike to accelerate recovery following training or performance, potentially providing greater opportunity to complete further (or higher quality) sessions amongst an often cluttered diary. Consequently, numerous strategies have been developed that aim to enhance or speed up recovery. Such recovery strategies tend to fall within one of three categories; 1) nutritional, 2) environmental and 3) physical therapy interventions, and within these categories a range of modalities exist. In section 1 of this chapter we review the evidence investigating the efficacy of a number of popular and emerging recovery strategies; including, carbohydrate-protein supplementation, antioxidant supplementation, cold water immersion, whole body cryotherapy, compression garments and neuromuscular electrical stimulation. In section 2 we take an applied approach in an attempt to provide guidelines for practitioners considering the implementation of recovery strategies with their athletes. This includes examples of how recovery strategies may be implemented in specific scenarios, providing templates for the applied practitioner. Additionally, included in this section is the important discussion of the potential conflict between accelerating recovery and blunting physiological adaptation, which has gained much attention in recent years. In summary, this chapter evaluates the existing literature, provides practical recommendations and promotes the notion that the implementation of recovery strategies isnot a “one-size fits all” and should be applied in a scenario-specific fashion.
