CHAPTER

Apuntes

CHAPTER 319 24 24 24 E lite athletes are in a cyclic state of adaptation and recovery from the stressors associated with training and competition. However, as athletes seek to optimise performance, sufficient recovery is sometimes overlooked as a way of increasing overload, intensity and volume. In addition to large training volumes, athletes may have to perform repeated high-intensity competition within several days and with limited recovery. In its simplest terms, recovery is marked by the athlete’s return to resting function and physical performance. Therefore, an imbalance between exercise and recovery can result in a fatigued state and a reduction in physical performance marked by either a decrease in force production or the perception that production of that same force feels more effortful. Clearly, recovering effectively is one of the most critical determinants of sport success. Physiological stress results in a complex, multi- system response that involves the neuromuscular, endocrine and autonomic nervous systems. In an attempt to optimise recovery after training and competition, it is common practice to employ one or more postexercise recovery strategies. The primary aim ...