From the Lead Physiology & Research Innovation of Triathlon Australia
When trying to gain a competitive advantage on the ITU circuit, one of the most important things you can do is to optimise your recovery.
As the Triathlon Australia Physiologist, I work to ensure that athletes are appropriately using evidence-based strategies to physically and mentally recover between hard training sessions and competitions. At the forefront of this is assisting coaches in maintaining the balance between training induced fatigue, and recovery, such that the athletes may continually improve their performance.
Peer reviewed research has consistently shown that availability to train is a key factor in maximising athletic performance. Optimising recovery in between the large volume of training elite triathletes complete (around 25-30 hours per week) is critical to ensure that athletes remain available to train, and therefore perform.
In addition to the recovery pillars of sleep and nutrition, the pneumatic compression products of NormaTec are a welcome addition to the holistic recovery practices employed by Triathlon Australia’s High Performance athletes due to the convenience and comfort they provide, as they seek to optimise recovery and gain competitive advantage.
The NormaTec products work on the principle of intermittent pneumatic compression – essentially, they squeeze your muscles in a graded fashion, starting at the extremities (in the case of the boots, the feet are compressed initially, with the pulse technology moving upward through the limb).
This massages the limb and mobilises fluid and metabolites, which is particularly useful after a hard session, where accumulation of these metabolites can impair recovery and therefore subsequent exercise.
In clinical settings, the use of this technology is widespread, particularly in the treatment of limb oedema and deep vein thromboses. Whilst research into the efficacy of pneumatic compression in athletic settings and populations is still emerging, certain scientific studies have returned positive results including reduced muscle soreness and swelling, reduced impairment of flexibility post-resistance exercise, as well as improved perception of recovery status (a particularly important consideration given the importance of belief effects in performance recovery).
The NormaTec recovery boots and arms are quite popular with our High Performance athletes, particularly at competition and on training camps, giving them the opportunity to enhance their recovery between hard training sessions and around competition.
“NormaTec boots have been the perfect addition to my race preparation & recovery regime. They allow me to optimise the time off my feet, by giving my legs a solid flush & allowing self-control of the NormaTec massage cycles & intensity. I have found them extra valuable of late as we find ourselves needing to back up from the World Series Individual Racing to the exciting new Mixed Team Relay World Series that follows, NormaTec has assisted this quick recovery process.” – Emma Jeffcoat.
Triathlon Australia is thankful for NormaTec’s ongoing support of all of our athletes on the road to Tokyo, and beyond.
Avish Sharma
Triathlon Australia’s National Lead – Physiology & Research Innovation
Keith Flory
Performance Programs Manager
Having access to the NormaTec boots for our athlete group at the World Triathlon Series and World Para Triathlon series races is a real benefit to our elite athletes. Whether it’s to give them an edge in the lead up to races following hard training sessions or after long haul flights or in assisting the athletes recovering from the races themselves, the boots are a brilliant resource.
Emma Jeffcoat
Elite Athlete
NormaTec boots have been the perfect addition to my race preparation & recovery regime. They allow me to optimise the time off my feet, by giving my legs a solid flush & allowing self-control of the NormaTec massage cycles & intensity. I have found them extra valuable of late as we find ourselves needing to back up from the World Series Individual Racing to the exciting new Mixed Team Relay World Series that follows, NormaTec has assisted this quick recovery process.
