Experts advise that well-balanced recovery is essential to keeping the pace
Let’s be honest—we’re a society steeped in the extremes. Gone are the days when “being active” meant a daily stroll or a leisurely bike ride. From ultramarathons to triathlons to cross-fit, today’s active adults are, more and more, pushing the envelope, says Cody Gingerich, who co-owns Onward Greenville with his wife, Jess Gingerich.
Bot Cody and Jess are physical therapists and certified trainers who routinely see the need for recovery services in an active community like Greenville. “People here are really wanting to take care of themselves and be ahead of the game,” Cody says. And yet, many active adults and athletes overlook the importance of an ongoing recovery and restoration program.
“There are a couple of misconceptions about recovery,” he says. “The first is that someone can stay so beat up for so long that they can never feel good again. The second part is that they can’t do what they want to do anymore. But, getting back to doing what you want to do is almost always possible.”
At Onward, clients range from high school athletes to active adults in their mid-60s who choose tailored recovery-forward services like dry-needling and electro-stimulation to aid muscle restoration. Cupping, soft-tissue manipulation, and spinal manipulation can factor in, too. Physical therapy also entails conversations around food intake, sleep, and stress.
“If you’re working hard, you need recovery to keep you moving” Gingerich says. “Sometimes, people come in and are feeling good and just want to keep feeling good. And that’s where the conversation shifts to the recovery side of things.”
Recover Right
An active lifestyles requires routine rest and recovery. Essential practices include:
- Nutrition and hydration
- Stress management
- Stretching and yoga
- Staying active
- 7–9 hours of sleep
Professionals also offer these specialized recovery services:
- Physical therapy
- Dry-needling
- Cupping
- Spinal manipulation
- Electro-stimulation
For Kate Vanderhoff, a former division one basketball player who coaches high school basketball in Greenville, that conversation tends to center around teaching young athletes to be intentional about their bodies.
“The biggest thing is helping them understand their bodies and what their bodies are telling them,” she says. “Is that ache or a pain an injury, or, is it just soreness? What does that pain really mean?”
As a former player and now a coach, recovery for her athletes is more than going home and resting. “It might mean stretching, or yoga, or some combination of things,” she says. “But what it doesn’t mean is taking a week off after a strenuous workout. Instead, we want to take an active role in helping our bodies recover—be intentional about responding to how our bodies feel.”
Hydration and pre- and post-game nutrition factor into the equation. And, quite often, bodies that stay in motion year-round tend to fare better than those that go all-out for just a season.
“My year-round athletes—those that play multiple sports—are literally more ‘cross-fit.’ It’s about working different muscle groups, building strength to support other activities,” she says.
And recovery isn’t just for athletes. Gingerich says today’s nonstop lifestyles put more demand on mind and body than ever before.
“Truthfully, with the way our world works, people in high-demand jobs who are trying to stay active, be parents, do life … even just an hour of mental and physical recovery can help reset the system,” he says of the typical hour-long session.
Gingerich says sleep remains the most underestimated recovery tool.
“If you’re struggling to hit seven to nine hours of sleep, you’re leaving a lot on the table as far as your body being able to recover.”
