Recovery
Archive
If you’re looking for an excuse to hit the massage table more frequently (or to justify the expense if you’re already doing it), you’re in luck. A recent study from the University of Illinois at Chicago backs up what we’ve long suspected: Massage therapy…
Maximize your running progress with optimal recovery practices, from training strategies to nutrition
Drugs that affect hormones have the potential to cause all kinds of screwy side effects in the body—but fortunately, there’s not much evidence that medications like birth control or antidepressants will slow you down on the track or impede your progress in the gym. In fact, some research shows…
The most hated man in bike racing wants a second chance with the public. Here's why that's not a sign of the apocalypse.
Running and triathlon coach Brett Stewart gets this one from clients a lot: Between races that sell out months in advance and things that get in the way of training—like injuries, travel, and plain old busy schedules—it’s not uncommon for athletes to show up on race day…
Three years ago, it seemed like every fitness rag was hyping chocolate milk as the optimal recovery drink. It’s been in the fridge all along! We didn’t even know! The drink’s 4:1 ratio of carbs to protein, experts said, best promotes muscle repair and rebuilds energy stores after a…
Runners often think they have license to eat anything—and everything. And they're wrong.
More people die from opioid overdoses than car crashes, and Zohydro is one of the strongest yet to hit the market.
Ah, the ol’ “my resting heart rate is slower than yours, therefore I’m a superior athlete!” argument. Cyclist Miguel Indurain famously had a resting heart rate of 28 beats per minute, and he won the Tour de France five times in a row, so it’s easy to see how…
Training and nutrition has been an exciting (if unreliable) frontier for decades. But recent discoveries, combined with field-tested science, have debunked popular myths and established some ground rules for the outdoor athlete. Here's your performance 12-step program.
A new documentary suggests that adding a green smoothie to your diet is enough to transform your body. Do the claims stand up?
Not long, but you can maintain your fitness level with minimal workouts.
We’ve tackled this topic before, but new research suggests that it’s time to revisit the age-old question: If you’re going to do both, should you lift before running? Or run before lifting? Back in 2012, we reported that a short, moderate-intensity cardio workout before weight training…
Don't let a bad fall keep you down. Pro freeskier Crystal Wright shares hard-earned tips on preventing and recovering from tough breaks.
Time to chuck the ab-blaster and sell the ellipti-trainer. All you need for your ultimate home fitness center are these key essentials.
After a recent ultramarathon, I wanted to test a new approach to healing my mind and body.
Women combat veterans suffer the same injuries and difficulties as their male counterparts. And a rugged form of expedition therapy offers a new kind of hope.
The rewards of risk are fueling a catastrophic increase in TBIs. How can we protect ourselves?
Sometimes, what's common knowledge doesn't need scientific validation. Listen to the advice of these two legendary athletes and remember that even the strongest of us need a little rest and relaxation.
Rest, relaxation and time off are important ingredients to success
A few tips from Dr. Luanne Freer, founder of the Everest Base Camp Medical Clinic.
These healthy eats can help you build strength, sustain energy, and recover faster
CrossFit champ Samantha Briggs believes in resting as hard as you train and ditching the set exercise schedule. She shares her favorite training tips.
Already an Everest record-holder, the 29-year-old climbing great shares what it takes to reach the top
Fourteen years after barely surviving a mountaineering accident in Alaska, Paradox Sports founder and amputee Malcolm Daly is making it his mission to bring hurt climbers back to the tribe
Kor’s slick Nava filter can process about 40 gallons, or 220 refills before requiring replacement
Move over EPO: Dynavision’s CoreControl cooling glove enhances performance with just a vacuum and ice
You love to run. You hate to get hurt. Even if injuries are inevitable, there’s plenty you can do about them. Here’s your guide to fixing the most frequent problems.
I got doored by an oblivious driver. Thankfully I just bruised my leg, but it busted my bike pretty badly. Anyways, I’m about to receive some cash from the driver’s insurance company that’ll cover the x-ray bills and then some. Do I have to pay taxes on it?
Should I take ibuprofen before or after hard training to limit pain?
Training hard but still eating like you’re not? You could wind up with hormone deficiencies. The consequences can be dire: low energy, diminished sperm count, and an inability to conceive children.
A conversation with Dr. Stacy Sims, endurance runner, Ironman triathlete, and pro-elite road racer who has been studying the science of performance and nutrition for two decades
When it comes to holiday giving, you should never have to choose. This year, our editors have pulled together 68 perfect ideas—priced from $4 to $50,000—guaranteed to make anyone on your list feel like a million bucks.
When his wife Amy showed up with a Labrador Retriever, Jeff Supergan wasn't sure it made sense. He had never had a dog before, and, being confined to a wheelchair, didn't know if he could handle it. But when Amy's doctors discovered an unexpected brain tumor, the dog ended up taking care of them both.
In a time of corruption and coercion, courage was not in short supply. A hidden cadre of men resisted doping, and they paid a heavy price. Here are their stories.
Tens of thousands of people are hurt while riding their bikes every year in the United States alone. Follow these 10 basic guidelines to make sure you avoid injury and stay safe.
The difference between hitting the summit and hitting the wall comes down to the fuel in your belly.
I always get sausage fingers and puffy hands whenever I go on day hikes. My friend says it’s because I’m not eating enough salt. But doesn’t salt cause bloating? What’s going on here?
A protein-rich, paleo-inspired meal adapted for the modern athlete
The best blenders for whipping up recovery smoothies.
Increasingly, race organizers are testing non-elite athletes for performance-enhancing drugs. But is it fair, or even possible, to hold amateurs to the same stringent standards as the pros?
I saw a Groupon for a trip to a local infrared sauna. How’s that different from the dry sauna at my gym, and will it help my achy knees?
I have a friend who runs home from the bar and sits in a sauna after a night of drinking. He says this ritual helps him sober up faster and avoid a hangover. Is he right?
I want to keep up my training routine—but I'm injured. Will taking Advil for the pain in my strained quad inhibit healing?
I want to add miles for my ultra training, but I'm concerned about breaking down my body. Will longer runs wreck my hard-won muscle tone?
I’ve seen it on a whole range of athletes, from Olympic volleyball players to swimmers and soccer players. How is Kinesio tape supposed to work, and is it effective?
Long hauls in the saddle got you sore? These four yoga poses will stretch your trouble spots.
In our obsession with minimizing exercise damage, we may have lost sight of the reason we exercise in the first place: to force our bodies to adapt and get stronger
A recent New York Times Magazine story titled "How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body" caused a stir last week, claiming that certain aspects of yoga were too risky for the general population. So should you avoid the fitness routine if you're not a serious athlete?
New workouts, a marathon birth, and revolutionary new studies: Here are the headlines that defined health and fitness news in 2011
Does stretching prior to a run prevent injuries and improve performance? Does guzzling water prevent cramps? Here's the truth about the top 10 fitness myths.
An easy, dramatic performance boost based on an old science is catching on. It's about time.
Sometimes I get blisters on my feet. What can I do to treat them so I don’t have to stop running?
The U.S. military has always excelled at training soldiers, but they've had a tougher time helping them adjust to peace. The author joins 11 combat veterans in Nepal as they test the most promising new postwar therapy: adventure.
In 2007, molecular biologist Ron Evans flipped a genetic switch on test mice and turned them into super-athletes. Headlines ensued, as did nervous references to human applications and "exercise in a pill." Evans is still toiling away in the lab, and guess what? The day is coming.
From hot springs to mountain-town fiestas to one surprisingly easy island getaway, we've got you covered.
Are your workouts working against you? Why one addictive kind of training might be sabotaging your game.
New technologies take your fitness to the next level—by making the most of your downtime.
What's the best post workout drink? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
Turns out moderate drinking might not be preventive medicine after all. But that doesn't mean it's not good for you.
How can I prevent sore legs during my first long ski weekend? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
Build Power, Not Bulk The Pillars of Fitness To get in peak shape try out all four parts of our comprehensive series. IF YOU’VE BEEN FOLLOWING our Pillars of Fitness series (“Building a Base,” March, and “Speed Up,” May), congratulations. By now you’ve dedicated yourself to sustainable, year-round conditioning…
Turns out your old PE coach was right. Yes, it hurts, but the new thinking about athletic pain is clear: Keep moving.
I dislocated my shoulder rock climbing. What kind of exercises should I do to reduce the risk of it happening again? Eric Las Cruces, New Mexico
I'm having surgery on the big toe on my left foot, which will keep me on crutches for six weeks. The doctor has told me no pressure on the foot, not even from a stationary bike. What can I do to keep from totally losing my conditioning?
I banged my knee falling off my bike and now it's sore just below the kneecap. How long should I lay off it, and do you have any recovery suggestions? Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
The 12 most common, performance-defeating fitness mistakes, and how to fix them
If I'm still sore from a workout two days later, is it ok to work that muscle group again, or should I wait until the soreness has subsided? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
Sleep has overtaken yoga and carb-free diets as America's favorite fitness craze. It's about time.
When is the most effective time after weight training to take protein? Alexander Waterloo, Ontario