Conor Hockett January 26th, 2017
The race to maximize performance and provide meaningful insight into activity data drives the fitness wearables market, but the rest and recovery period between workouts doesn’t garner the same level of attention.
Sure, some devices like the Garmin Forerunner 630 and the Polar V800 provide a recovery timeline based on your previous exercise, but this feature doesn’t specifically aid in the recovery process.
According to a study by the University of New Mexico, periods of rest promote blood flow, replenish energy stores, and reduce body temperature. If your rate of recovery improves, you can exercise harder and more often without experiencing the negative effects of overtraining.
Beyond sleep tracking, the majority of activity trackers and fitness watches don’t offer features specifically for rest and recovery, but there are devices on the market geared toward this aspect of performance.
These are some of the best wearables for recovery that are available right now.
Related: This Elite Fitness Wearable Tracks Your Lactic Acid Level
Electronic Muscle Stimulator
The Marc Pro is an electronic muscle stimulator that uses a dynamic decaying waveform to contract muscles and then slowly release them over time. This allows muscle fibers to relax and fluids to move in and out of the targeted area without causing fatigue to the muscle, according to the company’s website.
This stimulation method aids your rest and recovery in several ways:
- Reduces muscle soreness: Improved circulation leads to less fatigue, so the Marc Pro helps you train again sooner and exercise more often
- Maximizes muscle gains: Since resistance training actually breaks muscles down, you make gains in the recovery stage, which the the Marc Pro facilitates
- Helps prevent injury: Overtraining often causes injury, but the Marc Pro helps you recover faster, lessening the risk of injury
- Improves overall performance: Because the Marc Pro increases the capacity of your vascular system over time, your muscles receive more oxygenated blood and can perform better
The Marc Pro and Marc Pro Plus are available on the company’s website for $649.95 and $949.95, respectively.
Smart Clothing
Under Armour uses Tom Brady and Misty Copeland to market its new Athlete Recovery Sleepwear, but don’t worry — this technology is for more than just professional athletes.
Related: Under Armour Training Shoes Will Transform Baseball Analytics
Bioceramic print on the inside of the Athlete Recovery Sleepwear absorbs the body’s natural heat and reflects far infrared energy back into the skin, according to the company’s website. Sold in both tops and pants, this smart clothing helps reduce inflammation, regulate cell metabolism, and promote better sleep.
Assorted Athlete Recovery Sleepwear is available on Under Armour’s website for $99.
Wearable Massage
The NormaTec PULSE Recovery System provides a wearable massage, but the technology behind it goes far beyond that of other portable massagers.
NormaTec’s system — which includes a control unit and attachments for the legs, arms, and hips — uses compressed air to massage limbs, mobilize fluid, and speed recovery, according to the company’s website.
Instead of just squeezing the target area, NormaTec uses pulses that mimic the pumping of muscles in the arms and legs to improve circulation. This PULSE technology also holds pressure in certain areas to prevent fluids from traveling in the wrong direction. Once backflow has been prevented, the pressure releases. This entire process works in a cycle.
NormaTec pulse packages start at $1,595 on the company’s website.
Do you use or know of any other great wearables for recovery? Let us know in the comments!
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