How Much is Enough?

Its the beginning of the new year, parking lots at gyms are full, fitness resolutions are underway.

Weight training, cardiovascular activity, and diet are all a focus. The one aspect that often gets left behind is rest and recovery. Whether it is with adults and there resolutions or kids and the number of sports being played and/or practiced.

Most of the kids we work with are consistent, 2-3 times per week, some once a week but even they are in-season and use the workout as a recovery workout.

There are some, however, that we see once every 2 or 3 weeks, they come in, pay their fee, have fun, give a big high-five at the end, and we wonder when we'll see them again.

The focus is long-term development. Whether an adult working on resolutions, or kids looking to prevent injuries and perform better on the field or court of play, consistency is the name of the game.

Here's my quick tip of the day. One needs to be consistent with their workouts in order to see any benefits. Too much can result in potential injury or fatigue. Not enough will not allow one to make gains, then we're really talking long-term.

Kids are often overbooked with activities and sports. We see many athletes who prefer to play the extra sport in-season, or play on the extra team in-season instead of working on there speed and agility training.

We encourage athletes to participate on one team for what ever the proper season is for that sport, such as soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter, and lacrosse in the spring. If kids don't participate in a sport for a particular season participate in a well supervised, well developed training program appropriate for their age. This allows for appropriate rest and recovery while allowing for the athlete to work on their sport performance skills.

So... no matter if your young or old, the 4th leg of the fitness chair is rest and recovery. You don't want to much and you don't want to little.

In Sport and Health,

Len Haggerty
Pioneer Valley Youth Sport and Fitness Institute