The Overlooked Key to Health and Fitness: Prioritizing Recovery

The importance of recovering after exercise has become a focal point over the last decade. Athletes from all skill levels are implementing recovery routines that stretch beyond the typical post-workout shake. But, what is often overlooked is that recovery is not only important for athletes, it is essential to the human body, regardless of age, activity, or lifestyle. In this article, we explore what recovery looks like at the cellular level, and how Joovv can help promote the body’s natural ability to repair and replenish itself. 

What is Recovery

The purpose of recovery is to return the body to a state of balance, also known as homeostasis. [1] Returning to this baseline state is important for all aspects of our health and well-being, whether we are recovering from a physical, mental, or emotional situation or activity. When we experience a form of stress, our body’s are pushed outside of the state of homeostasis. The stress can be intentional, like exercise, or the result of everyday activities. Regardless, we need time to recover. We may not think of stress and recovery as being related, but you can't have one without the other - and the balance between the two keeps us healthy and improves our overall well-being. Stress and recovery are connected through the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which is made up of the parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions. In times of stress, the body automatically activates the sympathetic division. After the stress has passed, or we have finished a workout, our body’s should instinctively switch to the parasympathetic nervous system to help us recover. This is how the body restores balance, and helps us get back to our baseline state. More often than not, the importance of the recovery process is overlooked, as we hurry to resume our everyday activities.

What Happens When We are Under Stress 

As we mentioned before, exercise is an example of intentional stress. During a workout, we’re purposely putting our muscles and cardiovascular system under stress. Whether our goal is to gain muscle, build strength & endurance, or lose weight, improvement happens when the body is challenged. The body adapts to these challenges by repairing the tissues and cells, so that over time it can better handle the stress. So as you can see, it is evident that recovery is crucial in enhancing our overall health and reducing the chances of injury while simultaneously allowing us to improve.

How We Recover   

Sleep is by far the most important part of the recovery process. As we sleep, our bodies remain hard at work to repair and restore the damage caused by stress-inducing activities, such as exercise. Although the science of sleep isn’t fully understood, research indicates that several biological processes occur during this period, aiding in our recovery process. These include muscle and cell repair, digestion, elimination of toxins, energy restoration, and temperature regulation, among others. [2] To explore more on this topic, you may be interested in our 7 Proven Sleep Tips For a Better Night Sleep.

Along with proper nutrition, science supports a variety of other recovery methods, including cold and heat therapy. The use of cold therapy is an effective technique to mitigate the initial swelling period that usually follows exercise or injury, minimizing the total inflammation that would occur, speeding up recovery. [3] Heat therapy is an effective method for easing muscle tension and enhancing blood circulation to affected regions, which helps aid in the recovery process.

In recent years, Photobiomodulation (PBM) has gained significant recognition as a recovery method among professionals seeking to enhance recovery, primarily due to its ability to improve cellular-level performance. PBM outperforms other active recovery methods in terms of non-invasiveness and substantial clinical evidence. The method involves exposing the body to red and near-infrared light, which is absorbed by the body to directly enhance cellular energy production. PBM is also highly valued for its ability to relax muscles, enhance circulation and blood flow, and produce strong anti-inflammatory properties.[4]

Recovery with Joovv  

Joovv’s Recovery+ mode is engineered to pulse the near-infrared wavelength at 10 Hz, while the red wavelength remains constant. The pulsed near-infrared light is not visible to the naked eye, and when combined with continuous red light, it’s delivered in a safe, non-invasive way.

Utilizing this mode can help promote an increase in alpha wave production throughout the body and stimulate the activation of the parasympathetic state, which is crucial for initiating the recovery process. Alpha waves are brain frequencies that range from 8 to 12 Hz, peaking at 10 Hz, and are naturally produced in the body during periods of relaxation. If you are interested in learning more about brain frequencies, you may find this article informative.

Why the Pros Use Joovv

Joovv remains one of the most highly trusted brands in the red light therapy industry for a number of reasons. Our products are true medical grade, meeting all applicable standards for medical devices of their type. We prioritize transparency, which is why our products undergo third-party safety testing by Intertek and carry an ETL mark indicating compliance. Other brands may make similar claims, but the crucial difference is that they are not tested under medical standards.

Our devices are trusted by athletes, coaches, and trainers for their ability to speed up recovery, enhance performance, and promote overall health and well-being. We’re honored to have partnered with the San Francisco 49ers in 2020, contributing to their remarkable on-field accomplishments. With Joovv, the 49ers have been able to maintain their competitive edge and remain a force to be reckoned with in the NFL.

"We take recovery seriously, which is why we've turned to Joovv red light therapy as a key tool in our arsenal“ said 49ers Director of Functional Performance, Elliot Williams. “Our athletes use it to speed up recovery time, but also to enhance their performance at multiple levels. And it's not just for them - our coaches, front office, and performance staff recognize the benefits as well. Implementing Joovv regularly and consistently is as easy as brushing your teeth." 

Summary

Recovery is a critical component that impacts everyone’s health and well-being. Our bodies are naturally designed to restore themselves to a state of homeostasis after experiencing intentional, or unintentional stress. However, we often push ourselves beyond our limits, ignoring the importance of this crucial process. As we go about our daily lives, we experience stress that accumulates in our bodies, causing us to stray from the state of homeostasis. It is therefore essential to incorporate recovery techniques like Joovv red light therapy into our daily regimen, to ensure that our bodies perform at their optimal level.

As we set our sights on the next hurdle, remember that Joovv is here to support you in achieving your goals. Cheers to better recovery and to the next Joovv session that will help us get there!