Regen Fridays

We’ve started a new tradition here at UCSD; every Friday we’ve dedicated a set time to regeneration. Anyone who’s been training for awhile understands the importance of regeneration, however, it seems to be the first thing we all tend to forget. Hopefully, making Regen Fridays a tradition will prevent our athletes and staff from forgetting this all too important piece of the puzzle. It’s our job as the strength and conditioning staff to help our athletes perform to the best of their abilities. This includes helping them recover properly so that they can make the appropriate adaptations to all the sundry of stressors they will encounter in their athletic season. Regeneration work is necessary not only for tissue quality but also to give the central nervous system time to recover

The staples of Regen Friday are self-myofascial release, stretching, and mobility work. We’ve incorporated the use of the foam roller for each athlete. The roller aids in releasing the adhesions and knots that tighten up our muscles. We also spend time improving range of motion in our joints, and counterbalancing any discrepancies that have likely developed from overuse. We encourage the use of contrast showers, where you alternate between hot and cold water promoting blood flow and recovery. Ice baths are also great, as they reduce inflammation and allow for better blood flow.

We’re also excited to explore new ideas for regeneration work. Things like hot yoga, saunas, or different forms of cryotherapy are all open for potential Regen Fridays.