FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 5th, 2013
SISTERS, OR – Those who vow to never rest until they reach a specific health or performance goal, says physical therapist Barrett Ford, are overlooking a vital aspect of training and rehabilitation: recovery.
“It’s no doubt a good idea to be active, but it’s not always good to drive yourself every single day,” Ford said. “Overtraining can lend itself to greater fatigue, the stalling out of healing and performance potential, and even injury.”
How so? According to Ford, sore muscles that aren’t given enough time to recover can cause a chain reaction throughout the body that can adversely affect focus, form, mechanics, and ultimately our joints. It’s the biomechanical slippery slope, Ford says, that can be prevented by making downtime a part of all training and recovery regimens.
“When we exercise, we’re breaking down our muscles, and we must give our bodies a chance to repair,” he said. “If we don’t, our muscles won’t support the body as well, putting us at risk of poor mechanics and joint breakdown.”
While there’s no tried-and-true formula for the amount of rest a person needs versus the hours he or she works out, Ford says the key is to listen to your body.
“Everyone is different, so reading your body is vital,” he said. “Even if your brain may be telling you differently, let your body guide your workout and your rest.”
Ford says to be aware of the following signs that your body’s ready for some R & R:
At Step & Spine Physical Therapy, Ford treats injury and pain, but he also provides services regarding prevention, training and performance enhancement, such as properly incorporating rest and recovery into a workout routine.
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