Recovery after exercise: what is the current state of play?

Recovery after exercise is an essential element of the training-adaptation cycle. The overall goal of postexercise recovery is to restore homeostasis in many of the body's physiological systems. After exercise, fluids and fuels lost or consumed during exercise must be replaced, body temperature and regular cardiovascular function must be restored, and damaged tissue must be repaired. These events should all occur in a timely manner before the next training session or competitive event occurs. Our understanding of the physiological foundation of postexercise strategies is growing, and further research will help to refine how such strategies are used in practice. Other priorities for future research include (i) investigating methods to promote good sleep behavior in athletes,(ii) examining the effectiveness of combining different recovery interventions, and (iii) determining the optimum timing and frequency of when to adopt recovery strategies between training/competition and across the different phases of a season.