Looking at some of our favorite recovery tools!
Recovery: A word that is commonly used and yet the practice of which can be under prioritized in our busy lives.
We have sent information regarding many facets of recovery before:
Recovery and Recovery from Major Orthopedic Surgery: A Dose of Reality
Why does a mountain athlete training center spend so much time discussing recovery?
It is often the least practiced and yet it IS the most beneficial tool we have to not only perform in given sports but to remain vital for the years ahead. Allowing us to thrive as we age.
Recovery requires self care or professional help and care. You will recovery faster, feel better, often sleep better and avoid pain and injury if you spend time every day or at least multiple days a week using recovery tools in an at home self care/wellness practice.
Instead of waiting weeks for an appointment for a massage or PT visit consider having tools you can use at home to bridge the gap in time, taking care of a niggle BEFORE it becomes a bigger problem, and to enhance Recovery.
Remember a little bit goes a long way. Although at first it seems like a significant investment to have a few if not all of the tools listed below. They are worth their weight in gold to have at your disposal the moment a pain/niggle/or tweak begins to develop. Reversing the potential injury or issue will take much less time and effort if we attend to it straight away. That does not mean that you may not still need to seek professional help, it may mean that things do not worsen and you improve even more quickly with self care between appointments.
Here are a few of our staff’s favorites!
We created a list and links to articles as to why you might want to invest in these tools. Also reach out at any time to any of our Ripple Effect Instructors for help and advice. In person or email info@rippleffectraining.com.
Our Go To Reference Book: Rehab Science by Dr. Tom Walters.
Percussion: Theragun or similar, for warm up and sore muscle massage.
Vibration technology: Hyperice – to relax muscles, with vibration + heat and or cooling.
Cupping – Self massage, improved lymph flow, fascial tension relief.
Myofascial Release – Myofascial blade, knobber, ball – creating looseness and movement in fascial tissue.
Mobility work – we discuss this daily at RE, it’s not just stretching, check out Built to Move by Kellie and Juliet Starret, for another deep dive, mobility is critical to strength and joint health.
Foam rollers and massage balls – relief of tight sore muscle, stuck fascia, improved mobility.
In addition, having some of the basics around can create magic: Heating pads, Ice packs, Yoga Mats, Yoga blocks, Bands, Voodoo Floss, this list goes on ( :
By all means not exhaustive and not meant to deep dive into the application of each modality, this list ideally will get you thinking about investing in you with support tools for recovery, creating health and performance, and reducing pain for years to come!