If you’re a competitive runner, you know how exhausting the few days after a race are. You use all your body’s energy on your race, and your recovery period can be grueling. Allowing your body to recover is important in injury prevention and muscle retention, so don’t be afraid to take a few days away from your normal training routine.

Physical Therapy

If you’re dealing with an injury after your race, contacting a physical therapist might be your best bet. They can help you pinpoint your injury and develop a treatment plan to heal most efficiently with the least strain on your body. Many top athletes from all different avenues of sports handle their recovery with an athletic trainer or a physical therapist. Having a trained professional help you recuperate your muscles from such a strenuous activity can make all the difference in the length of your recovery time.

Depending on hard you pushed yourself at your race, you may need a longer recovery time. If you’re working with a physical therapist, like those at Rehabilitation Centre Burlington ON, they’ll be able to help you know when you’re ready to begin your normal training routine again. It’s important not to push yourself too hard before your body is ready to minimize your risk of injury.

Active Recovery

One of the things that helps many athletes recuperate from extreme muscle strain is a few days’ worth of active recovery time. Active recovery is training at a lower level than you normally do, but still moving your body to prevent stiffness. If you’re planning on doing some days of active recovery, it’s important to listen to your body and not push yourself too hard. Do something that will use your muscles without straining them, such as yoga or swimming.

Active recovery tends to have more benefits for your body than passive recovery, such as continued flexibility, endurance, and cardio training. When you continue moving your body, just at a lesser intensity than normal, you stay nimble and strong and won’t have to fight as much to get back into your regular training routine. In all reality, you should only really use passive recovery when you’re injured, in order to protect your muscles and joints. Listen to your body and don’t push yourself past the point of recovery, but don’t be afraid to move around. Continue working out, but let yourself relax a little bit.