Perception of Recovery and Performance

Study Title: Individual perception of recovery is related to subsequent sprint performance
Authors: C. Cook & C. Beaven
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine
Date: 2013
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Summary:

• With a great deal of "performance therapy" occurring between competitions, it is not uncommon for sport medicine staff and coaches to be asked which modality is best for the purposes of enhancing the rate of physiological recovery. In this study, 12 male semiprofessional rugby players were used to look at not only the relationship between immediate post-game induced changes in core body temperature and repeated sprint performance (RSP), but also between the athletes' perception of the recovery strategies and RSP. Only a 3-week study, the players were asked to perform one of three recovery interventions (15 min. cold water immersion - 14 deg; 15 min. warm water immersion - 30 deg; and a 15 min. passive control of sitting on a chair) immediately following a high-intensity conditioning session. Immediately following each intervention, the players were asked to rate each recovery modality on a 1-5 Likert scale to combine a subjective measure of perception of recovery with the physiological changes. Orally ingested sensors were used to measure core temperature and 5x40m repeated maximal running sprints were used to assess performance.
• Not surprisingly, CWI induced the greatest immediate changes in core body temperature although temperatures returned to normal within 24 hours. Additionally, both the CWI and WWI interventions were preferred over the passive control intervention. And while the initial sprint performance was faster following the WWI than the control, the fifth sprint performances were faster following the CWI intervention than the WWI. Therefore, the most significant and pertinent result of this study was the correlation of the combined index of athlete perception and body temperature decrease with subsequent sprint performance. However, it must be strongly noted that the correlation between combined positive perception of recovery and WWI with subsequent sprint performance was strong as well.
• I really enjoyed this short paper as it clearly demonstrates the important blend between art and science in coaching and sport medicine. Far too often we rely solely on "the science", yet many individuals forget to give credence to the psychological aspects of performance. To me, it is simple. Respect and understand the science but do understand that how an athlete perceives their recovery intervention at that given moment is just as important as the intervention itself.

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Cook, C. & Beaven, C. (2013) Individual perception of recovery is related to subsequent sprint performance. British Journal of Sports Medicine