The Importance of Rest and Recovery

Rest and recovery allow the body to repair muscles, restore energy, and prevent injury.

Experts emphasize that training creates stress and micro-tears in muscles, and gains happen

during rest, not workouts. Recovery includes sleep, active recovery

(light movement, stretching, proper nutrition), and long-term rest built into training

cycles. Signs that an athlete needs rest include fatigue, decreased performance,

aches, mood changes, and poor sleep. Adequate recovery helps prevent overtraining

syndrome, supports mental health, strengthens the immune system,

and boosts performance. While individual needs vary, all athletes—youth, adults,