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Recovery is arguably one of the most important parts of any workout routine, but a highly underutilised tool for anyone who is active.
Why Should You Care About Recovery?
Recovery is arguably one of the most important parts of any workout routine, but a highly underutilised tool for anyone who is active. Recovering and stretching before and after your workout will help to:
- Relieve muscle tension and stimulate blood flow
- Reduce your risk of soft tissue injuries
- Improve flexibility
Types of Recovery Gear
There are a plethora of post-gym and sport recovery tools available that can help your performance, but it's important to know which one is right for you and what each product offers.
Massage Guns & Therapy Devices
Percussion therapy is a popular recovery method that uses the power of vibration to help relieve muscle tension and apply a massage to your muscles. A massage gun allows you to apply different speeds to increase the intensity of the massage.
Use this tool to work over muscles before and after exercise for particularly tight areas. It is best to focus on a specific muscle or area that feels tight by holding the therapy gun and applying gentle pressure while you move it around for 30 seconds to a minute at a time (but no more than 2-5 minutes on any area). Start with the lowest setting and increase based on your pain level.
Foam Rollers
This is one of the most common recovery items people use. A foam roller focuses on large muscle groups that are tight or have a limited range of motion. Always move slowly and hold your position on the sensitive spots (for 20-30 seconds) of your muscles to help relieve the tension.
It is best to use this while your muscles are warm. Some great areas on which people commonly use a roller are your hamstrings, quads, and shoulder blades.
Check out our foam rolling guide for more benefits, how to choose and use a foam roller here.
Resistance Bands
These are unique recovery tools to stretch out your muscles, making them great for post-gym recovery or after a match. Resistance bands are quite long and can wrap around your body and apply pressure to help hold stretches. These bands come in an array of sizes and widths which offer more or less slack.
Try holding the stretch for 15 seconds and then releasing it when using a resistance band. You can also use this to dynamically stretch which is all about moving your body or muscle actively during the stretch to improve flexibility.
Massage Balls
Massage balls are a great tool to target and release tension at specific points or knots in your muscles. These are perfect for people who travel or are moving around a lot as they are small and portable. Massage balls come in a variety of different sizes and styles and can often have small spikes to increase the level of tension applied to your muscles. It's always best to build up to using massage balls as they are really firm and will take some getting used to.
A great use for these is to hold them firmly on the spot which is feeling particularly tight for 15 seconds then release. Use massage balls for hard-to-reach areas such as your shoulders or hip flexors.
Need help choosing between a massage gun or massage ball? Our guide can help.
Sleep Aids
Any professional athlete or experienced fitness enthusiast will tell you that sleep is crucial for muscle recovery. Getting the right amount of good sleep can accelerate your recovery tenfold, while also providing great mental health benefits.
Sleep aids help you do exactly that, get better sleep. From sleep headphones to eyemasks, if you're serious about your post-workout recovery, then our sleeping aids will quickly become your new favourite.
Best Recovery Gear for Beginners
If you're just starting out at the gym or getting back into a sport, these recovery products are the perfect first step into your recovery journey.
Celsius Mini Percussion Gun
A powerful and compact massage tool, the Celsius Mini Percussion Gun is designed to help athletes recover faster and alleviate muscle soreness. With its high-frequency vibrations, this percussion gun targets deep into the muscles, releasing tension and increasing blood flow. This provides them relief from muscle tightness and promotes faster recovery. Giving them this as a holiday gift will allow them to take control of their recovery routine and experience the benefits of professional-grade massage therapy from the comfort of their own homes.
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Theragun Mini 2.0 Percussion Gun
For athletes looking to enhance their recovery routine, the Therabody Theragun Mini 2.0 Percussion Gun is a must-have tool. This powerful device delivers deep muscle treatment through rapid and targeted percussive therapy. Athletes can use it to relieve muscle soreness, break up knots, and increase blood flow to promote faster recovery. With its compact and portable design, they can pack it easily in their gym bag or backpack and take it wherever ensuring they never miss a recovery session.
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Celsius Hot/Cold Percussion Gun
Recovering from intense workouts has never been easier with the Celsius Hot/Cold Percussion Gun. It's built for ultimate recovery, offering both instant heat and cooling with a wide temperature range from 3°C to 43°C (based on ambient conditions). Tailor each session to your needs with six vibration intensity levels and five interchangeable heads, including a powered hot and cold attachment. With over four hours of battery life, it's ideal for extended use. The set comes complete with four massage heads, one hot/cold head, two USB-C charging cables, and a handy storage case.
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Theragun Relief
Recover like a pro with Therabody Theragun Relief – a lightweight, easy-to-use percussive massage device designed for all-day comfort and helps quickly ease everyday aches, pains, tension, and stiffness. The triangle grip makes it easy to reach tough spots, while three attachments target everything from large muscle groups to more sensitive areas. Perfect for beginners, its simple design takes the guesswork out of recovery, making effective relief accessible to anyone looking to stay active and feel their best.
ShopBest Recovery Gear for Athletes
Suited to high-performing athletes who know how important recovery is to their game, this selection of recovery gear will help you bounce back from a tough match in no time.
Theragun Elite Percussion Gun
With its advanced features and customisable speed settings, the Therabody Theragun Elite Percussion Gun allows athletes to tailor their recovery routine to their specific needs. Its powerful and targeted percussive therapy assists in alleviating muscle soreness, loosening knots, and improving blood circulation for a quicker recovery. This compact and portable device is perfect for athletes on the go, allowing them to take their recovery sessions wherever they need to.
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TriggerPoint GRID Foam Roller
Whether you're gearing up for a race or just smashing your regular workouts, the TriggerPoint Grid Roller is your go-to for faster recovery. The textured 3D surface helps get deep into tight spots, boosts blood flow, and helps you bounce back quicker. It's made with a solid core and durable EVA foam, so it gives a firm, effective massage while providing exceptional durability compared with full foam core rollers.
Check out our top foam rolling moves for recovery here.
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Therabody Smart Goggles
Designed to take your recovery routine to the next level, these innovative Therabody goggles combine the benefits of percussion therapy with smart technology, providing athletes with a unique and effective way to recover from their workouts. With built-in speakers and Bluetooth connectivity, athletes can listen to their favourite music or guided meditations while receiving targeted percussive therapy to relieve muscle soreness and increase blood flow. The goggles also feature customisable settings, allowing users to tailor their recovery sessions to their needs.
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Chirp Wheel XR 10 Inch Acupressure Foam Roller
The Chirp Wheel XR 10” is built for serious muscle relief with athlete-level recovery in mind. Its Spinal Canal design keeps pressure off your spine while targeting tight muscles with its acupressure texture – perfect for hitting those stubborn trigger points. The 5" width fits right between your shoulder blades, and the extra-thick, compression-sensitive padding means you get deep tissue benefits without sacrificing comfort. Whether you're training hard or just feeling tight, it's a game-changer for recovery and keeping your body moving at its best.
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GU Lemon Lime Hydration Tablets
GU Hydration Tabs make it easy to stay on top of your hydration – before, during, and after your workout. They're packed with electrolytes to help replace what you lose through sweat, keeping your body balanced and your performance strong. After a tough session or a big race, rehydrating properly is key to faster recovery, reducing cramps, and can help to avoid that drained, sluggish feeling. Just drop one in water, and you're good to go!
ShopBest Recovery Gear for Experienced Fitness Enthusiasts
Designed for experienced gym-goers and fitness enthusiasts – essentially anyone who has been going to the gym consistently for a while – this collection will elevate your post-gym recovery to new heights.
Theragun PRO Percussion Gun
The Theragun PRO Percussion Gun is the ultimate recovery tool for fitness buffs. With its deep muscle massage and a full suite of attachments, it provides professional-grade therapy right in the palm of your hand, enhancing muscle recovery, relieving stress and tension, and soothing tired muscles. It goes 60% deeper into the muscles than other massage guns on the market and delivers 40 percussions per second for maximum effectiveness. The ergonomic design and adjustable arm make it easy to target problem areas with ease and comfort. Plus, with its interchangeable and rechargeable batteries, OLED screen, and customisable speed settings, athletes can personalise their recovery sessions to meet their specific needs.
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PTP Massage Balls
The PTP Massage Balls are designed to help athletes release tension and alleviate muscle pain in areas such as the hips, back, shoulders, glutes, feet, and forearms. With their different densities, the firm ball and the soft ball cater to different pain thresholds, allowing athletes to customise their self-massage experience. You will love the versatility and effectiveness of these therapy balls, as they can easily access trigger points and relieve tension in multiple areas of your body.
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TheraBody TheraCup Heat & Vibration Enhanced Cupping Therapy
Advanced and innovative, the TheraBody TheraCup Heat & Vibration Enhanced Cupping Therapy is for those of us who need deep, targeted recovery treatment. This device combines the benefits of heat, vibration, and cupping therapy to alleviate muscle soreness, increase blood flow, and promote faster recovery. Gymgoers can use it to target specific areas of tension and tightness, providing relief and enhancing their overall recovery routine. With its portable and easy-to-use design, they can take it wherever they go, guaranteeing they never miss a recovery session.
ShopBest Recovery Gear for Improving Sleep
Adequate sleep is crucial for recovery, as it allows the body to repair and rebuild muscles after intense workouts.
Sleepwell Bluetooth Eyemask Sleep Headphones
The Sleepwell Bluetooth Eyemask Sleep Headphone is an innovative device that combines the benefits of a comfortable sleep mask with built-in headphones, allowing athletes to block out distractions and get a restful night's sleep. With these headphones, you can enjoy your favourite relaxing music or guided meditations while drifting off to sleep, promoting relaxation and enhancing your recovery process.
ShopThe content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding your health, especially if you are injured, have concerns, or are considering changes to your health routine.