Recovery- Adaptation

The article entitled “Recovery – Adaptation: Strength / Power Sports “, by Michael Stone, tells of the importance of incorporating recovery periods into an athlete periodized program.  This relates to last week’s article on de-loading.  The most important aspect of any workout program is the rest.  Stone defines recovery as “regaining what was lost”, and he points out that athletes are interested in adaptation rather than recovery.  If an athlete only returned to their prior condition after training for three weeks they will feel as though they wasted their time.  Recovery and adaptation are achieved through cleverly planned and executed rest periods and periods of de-load. 

            Rest and periods of de-load are incorporated at each level of an athletes periodization.  In the large view of the entire Macrocycle, there are rest periods and transition periods as the athlete ends his/her competitive season.  That alone is not enough for the athlete.  Recovery is also incorporated at the meso and microcycle level.  Each month there are periods of rest and within each week there are periods of rest.  Ever further, within a single workout session there is rest that can be planned and manipulated to optimize a workout.

            Creative, well thought out planning, is essential for any workout program.  The greater the stimulus, the greater the need for recovery.  “Stimulus-Fatigue-recovery-adaptation” theory basically says that a stimulus results in fatigue, and is followed by recovery and adaptation.  This eventually results in supercompensation and improved performance.  I order to fully maximize ones training program both rest, and periods of de-load are essential.