“Recovery is where real progress happens,” says Therabody founder, Dr Jason Wersland – and we’ve been putting that theory to the test.
Our Sub-editor, Ed, a 3:16 marathoner who is training for Frankfurt in October, has been trialling Therabody’s RecoveryAir JetBoots and Theragun PRO Plus to finally crack his post-run recovery routine. Here’s how he got on.
"Recovery is what I struggle with the most when I’m training for a marathon.
You might think it is the easiest part; stretching and resting in the comfort of home after putting in the hard work, but I’ve always struggled to be disciplined enough to complete a post-run recovery routine.
As my marathon targets have become more ambitious, I’ve felt the strain on my body as it tries to adapt to the higher mileage. Something will give and I am keen for it not to be my knees!
So, I was quick to take up the offer of testing two popular Therabody products to see if they could help me get serious about recovery.
First up, the RecoveryAir JetBoots. The wireless boots deliver powerful leg recovery sessions using 60-second compression cycles that boost circulation. They inflate and deflate on a cycle, creating a wave of compression that moves up your legs.
This is designed to improve blood flow, which helps your body flush out metabolic waste created through exercise before it builds up in the muscles. The idea is that by using the boots post-run, you’ll reduce muscle soreness and swelling, helping you to recover quicker.
I tested the boots when I was running between 30 and 40 miles per week. The biggest recovery benefit was after my harder sessions – tempo runs on Mondays; interval runs on Wednesdays; and the miles at marathon pace during my weekend long runs.
The boots connect to the Therabody app and after just a few taps on my phone, they whir into life, slowly inflating and building pressure from the ankle up to the thigh.
The app gives you a greater choice of session times and pressure settings, ranging from 23 mmHg to 100 mmHg (millimetres of mercury – the unit used to measure pressure). Plus, there’s lots of helpful guidance on how to get the most from the product, and it tracks your recovery time.
Alternatively, you can use the buttons on the boots to choose from four inflation settings (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%), and three time settings (20, 40 and 60 minutes).
I saw the biggest benefits when I zipped up and completed a 30 to 40-minute session on a mid-to-high pressure setting within an hour after the run. The following day, my legs didn’t feel as stiff or tired and the ‘easy’ runs that make up the rest of my training week didn’t feel as much of a chore. These runs are done at a slower pace, so I am on my feet for longer and having fresher legs was a big plus.
The big appeal to me is they are doing the recovery work for you. That’s not to say you shouldn’t stretch and do other conditioning work, but having this recovery device has helped me get into a better routine and improved my training performance.
The Theragun PRO Plus comes with five different attachments designed to cater for every ache and pain imaginable, including loosening stiff muscles, easing knots in your back and reducing tension. It comes with a smart travel case, making it easy to carry.
I found the Theragun useful when I wanted to target certain muscles quickly. The massage gun was great to use after my strength and conditioning sessions when I had tension in my shoulders and arms. It was also very effective at reducing tightness in my quads and calves.
The Theragun also has a built-in biometric sensor that records your heart rate, plus haptic-led breathing exercises. This is where vibration is used to guide the user through the breathwork. For example, increasing vibrations direct you to breathe in, while decreasing vibrations guide you through the exhale.
High-tech devices such as the RecoveryAir JetBoots and the Theragun PRO Plus provide instant recovery from the comfort of home. The tools aren’t cheap, but I believe they take your recovery to the next level and are helpful if you’re not sure how to manage a post-run routine."
Want to try out Therabody for yourself? Head to the Therabody stand in The Big Half Festival Area in Greenwich Park on Sunday 7 September to try out some of their products and get expert advice on the best device for you.