Table of Contents

Part 1: The Effects of Strenuous Exercise

1. Overtraining and Overreaching

2. Fatigue

3. The Immune System

4. Energy Systems

5. Exercise Induced Muscle Damage

6. Cardiac Recovery

Part 2: Prevention and Recovery Options

7. Supplements

8. Antioxidants

9. Recovery drinks

10. Muscular Cramp, Recovery from Exercise in Extreme Heat and Cold

11. Medications and Banned Substances

Part 3: Commonly Used Modalities

12. Hyperbaric oxygen chambers (HBO)

13. Cryotherapy

14. Thermotherapy

15. Massage, Foam Rollers, Vibration

16. Compression Garments

17. Stretching, Active and Passive Recovery

18. Sleep, Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation

Part 4: Conclusions

18. Summary

19. Summary and Recommendations

20. Summary and Recommendations

About the Author

Steve Bedford qualified in Swedish massage in 1995 and in sports massage the following year. Further studies and qualifications include diplomas in sports therapy and sports injury management; certificates in neurolinguistic programming, clinical hypnosis, cardiac rehabilitation, personal training and mat-based Pilates; and a master’s degree in sports performance. Steve has worked at every Wimbledon tennis championship since 1999, 12 ATP World Tour Finals, ten Queen's Club championships and two seasons at Arsenal Football Club. He was also the unit lead for sports massage on the University of Bedfordshire’s sports therapy undergraduate program for four years, and has taught sports massage at the University of East London and Bath University. He has also taught health and exercise science and sports science at St Mary’s University. Steve has published in peer-reviewed academic journals and is the author of Sports Performance Massage (Routledge, 2021).