When my 10-year-old son started kid pitch this year, one of
his coaches told the kids to make sure to ice their shoulders after practice. A few weeks later I attended a meeting for my
daughter’s high school cross country team where the coach told us the best
recovery was “sleep” and reminded the kids not to drink anything but water.
Around the same time I heard this
interview on NPR about a new book about the science of recovery.
In Good to Go: What
the Athlete in All of Us Can Learn From the Strange Science of Recovery, Christie
Aschwanden takes a look at the products, techniques, drinks, and promises of
the recovery industry. Her first chapter, where she herself sets out to
discover whether drinking beer after a long run helps or hurts, sets the stage
for why these methods are so difficult to study and (definitively) prove they
work.
In addition to trying out popular new trends such as
cryotherapy, infrared saunas, and float rooms, she also looks into more
basic (and accessible) methods such as sleep. She also includes chapters that
outline the dangers of supplements (which have caused illness and failed drug
tests) and overtraining.
By describing her personal experience and anecdotes from
famous athletes, she makes reading about these science studies engaging and,
dare I say, fun. One of my favorite examples comes from her chapter on “The
Perfect Fuel.” Apparently Usain Bolt’s recovery meal of choice at the 2008 Olympics
was found at…McDonald’s. However, as Aschwanden notes, “Bolt didn’t win three
gold medals in Beijing because he gobbled chicken nuggets. He won the medals
because he’s the fastest man alive.” She also explains how one WNBA coach was able to improve her
team’s performance, not by adding in more practices, but by adjusting the
practice and travel schedule to allow her athletes to sleep.
Overall, Aschwanden comes to the conclusion that each
athlete can make the best recovery decisions by paying attention to his or her
body: drinking to thirst, eating enough calories and nutrients, and resting
when tired.
My son never did end up needing to ice his shoulder.
Although he did use his sore shoulder as an excuse once or twice to get out of
violin practice. My daughter has just requested a watch, so she can better track
her speed and distance. She hasn’t asked for any infrared pajamas or $1,500 leg
warmers. Yet.
