Recovery
October 18, 2018 by Robert M. Conenello, DPM, FACFAS
Experienced distance runners have learned through trial and error the importance of recovery. Those who test the limits of their body’s ability, and who care more about running daily instead of running consistently, are destined for injury. The key to reaching your running or fitness goals is to listen to your body and understand when it is O.K. to push and when it is necessary to take your foot, so to speak, off the accelerator. So, what exactly is recovery? Absolute recovery is a passive approach. The strategy is to stop completely all running activities and to raise our legs above our heart. That’s nice, but not practical. Especially for those enthusiasts who use running as a release from our hectic worlds. I like to use the term “dynamic recovery.” This requires the runner to play an active role, which can incorporate a number of different forms:
- a long walk or bike ride on off days
- self massage and foam rolling
- ice baths
- nutrition and hydration