As much as we encourage our patients to move and exercise as regularly as possible, it is also important to engage in active recovery. Active recovery is a way to keep moving while also letting our body rest. Often times we become extremely engaged in our physical activities, and while it might feel good to push our limits, it’s an easy way to increase the chances of overworking our system and, thus, raising our risk of injury. Incorporating active recovery into our schedule can be a great way to help prevent this from happening!
You can practice active recovery in different ways, such as simply going for a brisk walk, practicing gentle yoga or tai chi, and even doing light cardiovascular or resistance training. These activities, while still forms of exercise, are typically much less intense than regular exercise. Of course, these are all relative to what you do on an individual basis, but finding alternatives to still move in ways that are not overly fatiguing to your body remains extremely important. The important factor to consider when performing active recovery is to ensure it remains low intensity.
In addition to active recovery, passive recovery is also important to your body. As the name implies, passive recovery involves minimal to no effort. These recovery days may feel unproductive. However, after intense training, they can be exactly what your body needs.
Ultimately, you know your body best, and should plan training and recovery based on how you feel. If you are unsure how to structure your workouts to include recovery days, consult one of our physiotherapists!
