Book Description

The desire to improve muscle function and prevent overuse injuries from exercise and throughout training has led to the development of various methods to aid recovery and track readiness to perform. Ergogenic aids such as cold-water immersion, massage, and dynamic recovery procedures may have positive effects but the results of the related research remain equivocal. Furthermore, novel interventions in this scenario, like compression garments, ice vests, and photobiomodulation therapy are promising but need more evidence-based data to support their effectiveness. Similarly, to properly monitor individual physical conditioning, there is a growing interest toward unobtrusive measures to accurately represent physiological status during and/or after exercise. There are several techniques being used, such as subjective ratings of well-being, heart rate monitoring, hormonal and hematological profile assessments. However, more sensitive indexes like heart rate variability and muscle activation (voluntary and/or involuntary) are arising as attractive alternatives that may delineate physical conditioning status and readiness to perform more precisely than the aforementioned measures. The purpose of this Research Topic is to critically evaluate and summarize recent data from observational and intervention studies related to non-invasive methods designed to promote recovery and objectively monitor training status. Their association to physical performance and physiological recovery in athletes during training and competition is a major focus of this Topic.