This episode explores the benefits of active recovery for ice hockey players, based on findings from a 2015 study published in Sports Medicine - Open.
● Active recovery, such as standing and pacing between shifts, helps maintain cardiac output better than passive recovery (sitting). This means better blood flow throughout the body, which is important for both performance and health.
● The study found that active recovery led to a sustained elevation in heart rate and a physiologically relevant increase in stroke volume. This helps to maintain the body's blood flow and prevent blood pooling.
● For competitive athletes, active recovery can lead to better performance by improving ATP repletion and pH recovery in muscles. This translates to better power output during repeated sprints, which are crucial in a fast-paced game like hockey.
● For older, recreational players, active recovery can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. This is because it helps to maintain blood flow to the heart and prevent dangerous drops in cardiac output that can occur with passive rest.
● The episode will discuss the physiological mechanisms behind these benefits and offer practical tips for incorporating active recovery into hockey training and games.
This episode is essential listening for hockey players of all levels who want to improve their performance and protect their health.
Main source: Influence of Active Recovery on Cardiovascular Function During Ice Hockey
Jamie F. Burr, Joshua T. Slysz, Matthew S. Boulter & Darren E. R. Warburton
Sports Medicine - Open volume 1, Article number: 27 (2015)
