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What Does Appropriate Rest Look Like?

Finding the ideal balance between rest and training is an important factor for athletic performance, as well as for preventing burn-out and overtraining.  Here is how athletes can make the most of their rest time, even when rest is limited.

  1. Re-establish a regular sleep schedule and good sleep hygiene habits, including a calming bed-time routine.
  2. Devote time to an activity that is beneficial to your mental health, such as talking to a family member or close friend.
  3. For short rest periods, such as a few days off, participate in a physical activity that works your body in a different way than your dominant sport.  For example, if your sport is very upper-body focused, choose an activity with a lower body focus.  Choosing low impact physical activity during short rest periods is more likely to help you prevent over-use injury.  But, if you are facing a long period of rest, such as during the off-season of your dominant sport, it is good to participate in a mix of higher and lower impact activities to maintain your fitness for when your season resumes.

Not all athletes benefit from the same type of rest.  Seek the advice of a physical therapist if you would like more information on how to best structure your rest periods for your own specific needs.

 

Andrea Ginter is practicing out of Westbrook.  Call to book with Andrea at 403.228.7968

Cover photo courtesy of PMGImage