Recovery and Regeneration

Jake Peetz, CSCS
 

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Recovery and Regeneration
Types of Fatigue

Metabolic Fatigue

(energy stores)

Main Causes

*Training lasting an hour or more

*Training or performing over a number of days 

*Multiple training sessions in a single day

Physical Signs

*Feel fatigue sooner than normal 

*You struggle to complete a training session or an event 

Recovery Strategies

*Rehydrate and refuel before, during, and after training

*Use contrast temperature showers, or pool, or spa and cold tub or active recovery techniques

*Eat a meal within one to two hours of training

Neurological Fatigue

Muscles

Main Causes

*Short high intensity or long low intensity workouts, speed work and new training techniques

Physical Signs

*‘Sluggish’ feeling

*Slow feet, poor technique, reduced force production

Recovery Strategies

*Rehydrate and refuel with small amounts of protein and carbs during workout

*Use a shower or spa jets to massage fatigued muscles

*Massage larger muscle groups

Neurological
Fatigue

Brain

Main Causes

*Low blood sugar levels

*Injury and emotional factors

Physical Signs

*Lack of drive and motivation

Recovery Strategies

*Steady intake of Carbs during and after training to maintain blood sugar levels

*Rest…let yourself unwind

Psychological
Fatigue

(emotional, cultural and social)

Main Causes

*Life style stress

*Competitive pressures

Physical Signs

*Loss of self confidence

*Poor sleeping patterns

Recovery Strategies

*Take mind off training, go out to a movie, hang out with friends

*Before bed ‘switch off’ use relaxation techniques

Environment / Travel Fatigue

Main Causes

*Disruption of normal routine

*Climate changes

Physical Signs

*Takes longer to warm up

*Fatigue sooner than normal

Recovery Strategies

*Plan ahead for conditions

*Stay cool in the heat, eg. use pools, shade, sunglasses, iced towels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                 
 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Recovery and Regeneration
Post-Training Recovery

Just as the off season begins immediately after the last game, Recovery begins immediately after each workout session or pick up game.  These are recommendations to follow after each exercise bout, it is in your best interest to integrate as many of these into your lifestyle. 

Immediately
after Training

*Start restoring fluid levels immediately after training

*Within the first five minutes post exercise consume a sports drink or energy bar

*Stretch lightly, using both active and short held static stretches while muscles are warm

*Check for sweat loss by comparing weight loss pre- and post-exercise

*Unwind listening to music on your way home 

When you get Home after Training

*Continue to rehydrate and fuel

*Shower as soon as possible

*Continue to do some light static stretches in the shower

*Alternate between hot (30 sec) and cold (30 sec) in the shower, repeating 3 to 5 times

*Within 60 min of training have a well balanced meal

Unwind in the Evening

*Shower, spa or bath to relax muscles

*Relax in the evening, eg listen to music, TV, switch-off from the day’s activities

*Best time to do long held static stretches

*Massage legs, feet and hips

Prepare for Sleep

*5-10 min before bed switch off from the day

*Use relaxation skills such as visualization, breathing exercises or music

*Get out of bed in you can’t sleep – don’t just lie awake for long periods of time

*Sleep is the Most Undervalued and Mismanaged Regenerative Strategy

Next Morning Evaluation

*Next morning monitor your response to training

*Check your resting Heart Rate

*Check your body weight to monitor your hydration

*Take notice of how you feel, eg refreshed, or still tired, your quality of sleep

*Plan your training to suit your response to yesterdays session

 

 

 

Any successful system is a function of its constituent parts, the inclusion of each should be justified by fact or common sense.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To succeed...You need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you.
-Tony Dorsett

 



 

 

 

 

Recovery and Regeneration
The 6 Commandments

               During training and games rehydrate by drinking sports drinks and water

               Midway through your workout or game consume a sports drink to ensure you have the available energy to FINISH THE DRILL

               After training and games, replace your weight loss with sports drink (electrolytes and carbohydrates) and water within 30 min

               Post Game and post training meals MUST be eaten within 1-2 hours of the end of the game or training.  These MUST include a protein as well as a combination of carbohydrates, fresh veggies and fruit

               After training and games it is in your best interest to have a stretching routine.  Foam roll major muscle groups and massage joints.

               During intense training, it is in your best interest to get at least one full body massage a week.

 

 

 

 

Recovery and Regeneration
Hydro-Therapy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




 

 

 

 

 

Recovery and Regeneration
Pool Workout

This Workout serves as a great Routine for a Recovery/Regeneration Day.  Keep your tempo light and remember that this is a Day to Get Your Body Right, it is a Recovery Session and while it is work, if you are wearing down like you are doing a normal session back off the tempo.

Pool Activity

Lap or Reps

LAPS

*Walk forward with arm swings

*Walk backwards with arm swings

*Side steps with flapping arms (L/R)

*Backstroke

2 Sets

 

1 lap

1 lap

1 lap

2 laps

STRETCHES

*Calves (R/L)

*Shins (R/L)

 

2 each side

2 each side

LAPS

*Lunge Walk- fwd/arm swing

*Lunge Walk- bckwd/arm swing

*Backward Lunge with Twist

*Lateral Steps/Shuffle (R/L)

 

1 lap

1 lap

1 lap

1 lap

STRETCHES

*Quad stretch (L/R)

*Hamstring / Glute (Hamstring Curl in Water)

 

20-30sec

20-30sec

        

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

Recovery and Regeneration
Sleep

Sleep is one of your most valuable tools for growth.  Athletes may even require more than the average recommended eight hours a night, perhaps up to 9 hours of sleep a night, according to a recent study.

Rest is one of the most important principles of exercise and often the most overlooked. During sleep is when muscle adaptation and growth is actually occurring, this makes sleep a crucial recovery process following any workout.

Sleep and Growth Hormone

The number one reason sleep is important is because Growth Hormone (HGH) rises during deep sleep, which often begins about 30-45 minutes after falling asleep.

HGH stands for Human Growth Hormone (also known as Somatotropin), an amino acid produced in the pituitary gland of the brain. HGH plays an important role in human development by affecting skeletal growth.  HGH levels are high during childhood, and peak at adolescence. During puberty, HGH levels determine height and bone size. After puberty, HGH levels start to decline and by age 61 decreases to 20% of what they were at age 21. HGH is continually produced throughout the human lifecycle, and continues to regulate the body's metabolism.

Given that HGH is released at its peak during sleep, if the quality of sleep in inadequate there will be a reduction in the volume of HGH secreted.  This in turn means negative consequences for not only fitness, but for health as well. 

More information on how to peak your body’s production of HGH will follow in the next section.

What is happening in my body During Sleep?

During this suspended state of animation, your body is doing exactly what you've been begging it to do ever since you lifted that first dumbbell: build muscle. But if you don't get enough sleep, you need to understand how your sleeping habits can affect your body's own muscle-building potential.

Sleeping for 8-10 hours each night ensures that your muscles have enough time to repair and replenish their energy stores for your next trip to the gym.

If you're a seasoned lifter, you've reached a more highly conditioned state and can get away with more frequent training because your larger muscles have more tissue and can withstand the rigors of back-to-back sessions. According to a research published in the Journal of Applied Sports Science, well-trained athletes are able to tolerate more frequent high-intensity training sessions than their untrained counterparts.

Consequences of Sleep Deprivation

Long-term sleep deprivation has been linked to a number of problems. although sleep deprivation is far from lift-threatening for the average athlete, it can jeopardize your ability to have an effective workout and consistently getting less sleep than you need could lead to over training.  Let's take a look at a few examples of how to avoid some common sleep-related pitfalls.

A prolonged lack of sleep has an intoxicating effect on your body. According to the Journal of Applied Sports Science, being awake for 24 hours has the same physical effect as a blood alcohol content of 0.096, which is above the legal driving limit in most states. Working out in this state has its obvious downside. For starters, your lack of muscular coordination places you at a much higher risk for injury. Just as you'd never head to the gym after drinking a few beers at your local tavern, you should never work out after not sleeping the night before. You're better off waiting until the next day when your body has been given proper rest.  As you may know, your body's recuperative processes rely heavily on deep sleep (REM or Stage 4 sleep). Waking up during the night makes it difficult for your body to fall into the kind of deep sleep you need for this recuperative process to occur.

If you take alcohol one step further, it can be even more of a detriment to your training program.  Drinking excess alcohol can make quality sleep hard to come by and may, therefore, affect your training for more than just a day. Alcohol actually affects the central nervous system for up to seven days.

How can I make Sleep Work for Me

First of all, avoid exercising just before going to bed.  Body temperature is an important regulator of your sleep cycle. As your body temperature drops, you become sleepy. Exercise significantly raises your core body temperature and makes you more vigilant. In fact, it could take several hours after a workout for your body temperature to return to normal.

An ideal situation would be to work out a few hours before bedtime, but if your schedule absolutely demands that you have to train in the evening, try the early evening. The more time between your workout and the time you go to bed, the better. You need to allow your body to cool down enough to promote a better night's sleep.

Although some so-called bodybuilding circles consider it a sin, try having a light snack before you turn in. Going to bed on an empty stomach makes getting a quality night's sleep difficult.

If you know you'll be cutting back on your sleep one night, take a brief nap during the day. While napping isn't nearly as effective as an entire night's sleep, it does help offset some negative effects of a total lack of sleep. Keep in mind that sleep is not only an important part of your training program but also vital to living a long and vigorous life.

 

Recovery and Regeneration
Human Growth Hormone

What is Human Growth Hormone?

Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is a naturally occurring hormone produced in the anterior portion of the pituitary gland, a pea-sized organ suspended just below the brain.  HGH is associated with the function of growth and as recent evidence suggests HGH is involved in many physiological processes throughout our lives.  Examples of this include the building of muscle, bone, the regulation of fat and body composition (body fat %).

Why is Human Growth Hormone important to Me?

As an athlete HGH is Extremely important to you.  HGH plays a large roll in recovery and regeneration because it is responsible for Re-Building your body after you have worked it out in the weight room and on the basketball court.  Without proper amounts of naturally released HGH in your body, you will not be able to not only recover from a workout, you will not be able to build upon the base you already have attained. 

How can I make Human Growth Hormone work for Me?

To make it work we first must find how to put your body in the most optimal position to release the hormone into your blood.  Here are a some ways to accomplish that.

  1. Sleep:  Once again we see how important Sleep it to your recovery.  HGH secretion follows a circadian rhythm and is secreted in 6-12 pulses per day, with the largest secreted about an hour after the onset of night time sleep.  Sleep is in fact the Most Powerful natural stimulus of HGH release.  Because the largest surge of HGH released into the body occurs an hour after the onset of sleep it is vital for athletes to get plenty of it.  If the quality of sleep is inadequate there will be a reduction in the volume of HGH secreted and therefore negative consequences for your body.  It is recommended to achieve a minimum of 8 hours of sleep to attain and adequate quantity of sleep.   

2.  Exercise:  This is the #2 most effective trigger of HGH.  In terms of training,

research has shown that to achieve an elevation of HGH you need to spend at least 10 min training at above lactate threshold intensity.  This results in the biggest volume of human growth hormone HGH, secreted in response to a single exercise bout, with levels of the hormone declining gradually over a period of an hour.  In addition to promoting secretion of HGH, training at above lactate threshold promotes the use of fat as fuel.  This in turn spares muscle carbohydrate, keeps body fat down and muscle mass high. 

 

Recovery and Regeneration
The Perfect Day

Double Workout

8-9:00am

          -Wake after 8-10 hours of sleep

          -Eat Breakfast and drink fluids as designated in the Nutrition Section

          -Mentally prepare yourself for your morning workout

10-11:00am

-Eat a Pre-Workout Snack

-Drink Fluids

11-Noon

          -Training session followed by recovery shake

Noon-3:00pm

-Eat Lunch 45 minutes post workout, with food as designated in the Nutrition Section

-Rest.  Get off your feet in preparation for the next workout

3:00

          -Pre-Workout Snack and fluids

          -Mentally prepare yourself for your afternoon workout 

3:30-5:00pm

          -Training session followed by recovery shake

5:30-7pm

          -Eat Dinner as designated in the Nutrition Section

          -Relax post workout before the evening activities

9pm

          -Night Snack

          -Enjoy the rest of the day, clear your mind and relax. 

          -To allow your body to recover from the day get 8-10 hours of sleep

If waking at 8am:   In bed by 10-11:30pm

If waking at 9am:   In bed by 11pm-12:30am

 

Recovery and Regeneration
The Perfect Day

Single Morning Workout

8-9:00am

          -Wake after 8-10 hours of sleep

          -Eat Breakfast and drink fluids as designated in the Nutrition Section

          -Mentally prepare yourself for your morning workout

10-11:00am

-Eat a Pre-Workout Snack

-Drink Fluids

11am-1pm

          -Training session followed by recovery shake

1pm-2:00pm

-Eat Lunch 45 minutes post workout, with food as designated in the Nutrition Section

-Rest.  Take a nap, help your body recover

3:00

          -Mid Afternoon Snack and fluids         

3:30-5:00pm

          -Relax, enjoy the day 

5:30-7pm

          -Eat Dinner as designated in the Nutrition Section

9pm

          -Night Snack

          -Enjoy the rest of the day, clear your mind and relax. 

          -To allow your body to recover from the day get 8-10 hours of sleep

If waking at 8am:   In bed by 10-11:30pm

If waking at 9am:   In bed by 11pm-12:30am

 

Recovery and Regeneration
The Perfect Day

Single Afternoon Workout

8-9:00am

          -Wake after 8-10 hours of sleep

          -Eat Breakfast and drink fluids as designated in the Nutrition Section

10-11:00am

-Eat a Mid-Morning Snack

-Drink Fluids

Noon-1pm

-Eat Lunch 45 minutes post workout, with food as designated in the Nutrition Section

1pm-2:00pm

-Rest.  Mentally prepare for your afternoon workout

2:30pm

          -Pre-Workout Snack and fluids

3-5:00pm

          -Training Session followed by recovery shake

6-7pm

          -Eat Dinner as designated in the Nutrition Section

9pm

          -Night Snack

          -Enjoy the rest of the day, clear your mind and relax. 

          -To allow your body to recover from the day get 8-10 hours of sleep

If waking at 8am:   In bed by 10-11:30pm

If waking at 9am:   In bed by 11pm-12:30am

 

Recovery and Regeneration
The Un-Perfect Day

Single Training Session / Recovery Day

**The Un-Perfect Day is when you

1.  Do not get At Least 6-7 hours of sleep

2.  Consumed 6 or more drinks of alcohol the night before

3.  You wake up between 11am – 1pm and miss Breakfast

4.  Complete a Single Afternoon workout, or if body is severely depleted use the  day to recover

**This schedule will help you to get your body BACK ON TRACK and scramble to get the most out of what is left of your day.  By doing this you have put your body behind and we must be dedicated the rest of the day to Recovering

 

11am-1pm

          -Wake

          -Eat Breakfast and drink fluids as designated in the Nutrition Section

2pm-3:30pm

-Eat Mid-Afternoon Snack

-Drink Fluids

3:30-4:00pm

          -Eat Pre-Workout Snack and Fluids

          -Mentally prepare for the workout

4-5pm

          -Training session followed by recovery shake

6pm

Rest of the Day

          -Rest, Drink Fluids and help your body recover from the night before

If waking at 8am:   In bed by 10-11:30pm

If waking at 9am:   In bed by 11pm-12:30am

 

Jake Peetz, graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in December of 2006 with a B.S. degree in Exercise Science. In addition to getting his degree at the University, Jake was a four year participant, 2002-2005, and letterman on the football field for the Cornhuskers as a defensive back and long snapper. His passion for strength and conditioning led him from Nebraska to the Athletes' Performance Institute in Tempe, AZ where under the direction of world renowned movement specialist Daryl Eto and Mark Verstegan, Jake trained Olympic and professional athletes from the NFL, NHL, MLB as well as prepared college football players for the 2006 NFL combine, eight of which were selected in the first round.  Jake then continued his learning as an intern strength and conditioning coach under Shawn Windle of the Indiana Pacers during the 2006-07 NBA season.  Peetz is currently a staff assistant with UCLA football in Los Angeles, CA. 

 

 

 

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