The importance of recovery: A long-neglected crucial concept for health and performance

Abstract

Put simply, life consists of finding and keeping the balance between exploiting and regaining resources, which usually happens in the boundaries of the individual capacity. Without any stress stimuli, performance enhancement cannot be obtained and long-term goals will unlikely be achieved. But only as long as high stress-states can be met with sufficient recovery, psychophysiological homeostasis may be regained in due course. Typically, the lack of recovery that results from insufficient time and/or an unpurposeful implementation is the critical component in this continuum. To maintain the recovery-stress balance, two approaches can be identified. On the one hand, recovery strategies need to be applied effectively (i.e., purposefully and individually). On the other hand, the process of overload and the individual response need to be recognised at an early stage, which can be done with the help of self-monitoring and elaborated monitoring systems. This chapter describes conceptual processes of the recovery-stress continuum and evaluates its determinants. Moreover, current approaches and strategies of recovery management will be discussed. Practical and scientific implications will be provided.