Many of us are familiar with the phrase “no pain, no gain” and think it’s true when it comes to building muscle. But what we don’t always understand is that muscle-building actually works through creating micro-tears in your muscle which are then repaired during your recovery phase, growing your muscles by repairing those micro-tears. This means that you can’t build muscle without allowing adequate recovery time. Let’s take a deeper look at why recovery time is so important for athletes who are trying to build muscle.

The Science Behind Muscle Growth and Recovery

Muscle growth occurs when there is an increase in the synthesis of protein within cells, leading to an increase in cell size. This process is known as hypertrophy and requires stimulus from exercise as well as ample nutrients and rest. Muscles build in recovery, when tissues are restored and repaired and nutrients are replenished. Not allowing your muscles adequate recovery time can lead to a reduction in your athletic performance over time and also makes you more susceptible to injury.

Inadequate Recovery Time Can Lead To Injury

The body needs rest after intense exercise because it allows the muscles time to heal and rebuild themselves. When you do not allow enough time for your muscles to recover, they can become more prone to injury due to their weakened state. Additionally, pushing yourself too hard without proper rest can lead to fatigue, which will make it difficult for you to perform at a high level consistently.

Proper Rest Allows You To Perform At Your Best Consistently

It’s important for athletes who are training regularly to ensure they get enough rest between workouts in order to maximize their performance potential in the long run. Proper rest helps keep fatigue at bay so that you can maintain a high level of intensity throughout your workouts, enabling you to get the most out of them each time you hit the gym or field. It also enables faster regeneration of energy stores so that you can continue pushing yourself during each workout session—and get stronger over time!

At the end of the day, recovery plays an essential role in muscle growth and overall athletic performance. If you want to stay healthy and achieve optimal results from your training sessions, then taking regular breaks between workouts is key! Allowing yourself sufficient recovery time between sessions will help ensure that your body has enough energy stored up for each workout session and will help reduce any risk of injury or fatigue due to overtraining. So don’t forget: muscles build in recovery—not while working out! Take care of yourself and give yourself some much needed “me” time after every workout session!

Dr. Lesley Kargbo, PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS