Ultrasound
Studies are inconclusive about the benefits of ultrasound for therapeutic use in recovering from sports injuries (Anderson n.d.). A 2004 study (Wilkin et al.) showed that ultrasound does not speed muscle recovery after a contusion. Indeed, it might lead an athlete into returning to workouts too soon, because muscles feel better following ultrasound treatments. Apart from crashes and falls, endurance athletes don’t suffer contusions during training, but the study argues against the use of ultrasound for simple muscle recovery. Still, some athletes enjoy the ultrasound machine. If you find yourself turning to it often, you should consider whether you are developing an overuse injury. Examine your training log for signs of overdoing it.
Electrostimulat ion
E-stim devices such as the Globus and the Compex consist of a central unit and wires that hook to electrodes (see Figure 13.1).
The athlete places the electrodes on muscle groups, and then the unit sends electrical stimulation into the nerves, forcing the muscles to contract. Essentially, it’s a passive form of active recovery. The “active recovery” programs on the units purport to release endorphins, relax the muscles, and increase blood flow, thus eliminating toxins faster. (Note: as you’ll read in Chapter 14, on massage, “toxins” is a catch-all word, and many things we consider “toxins” are part of the natural process of exertion and recovery.)
A. Grunovas and colleagues (2007) tested electrical stimulation as a recovery modality for endurance athletes and found that, because it “improve[s] blood return to the heart,” it makes a good modality to “enhance recovery and restore muscle working capacity.” Likewise, Italian researchers (Tessitore et al. 2008) found that futsal players (futsal is a variant on indoor soccer) who received electrostimulation as a recovery modality reported a significantly greater perception of recovery benefit than those who did not, suggesting that their enthusiasm for the next game would be greater. This psychological effect is not to be discounted. Finally, many elite athletes testify to the effect of electrical muscle stimulation, although some athletes report finding the devices difficult to manage. Elite age grouper Thomas Laffont says, “Stim machines are difficult to operate; they require pads to be placed in specific areas and complex programming.” I enjoyed testing the Globus machine, and my children thrilled to the sight of my quadriceps twitching during its Active Recovery mode, but I must admit I noticed little difference in the quality of my muscular recovery. The machines might serve a therapeutic benefit, but for healthy athletes who could go for a 20-minute swim, spin, or walk, actual movement would trump having a machine activate your muscles. Still, the time I took to rest on the couch and emphasize my recovery between workouts was well spent, regardless of whether the Globus unit effected any change.
The bottom line is these devices have a lot of marketing behind them and not as much science. Remember, time, sleeping well, and eating right are the most important recovery tools. If you have the money to afford an e-stim unit and the time to sit with the electrodes in place, go for it. But be sure you are first getting enough rest and healthy food and that you are training wisely.
The NormaTec MVP
NormaTec is a compression device originally created by Dr. Laura Jacobs for rehabilitation of patients with vascular disease and later adapted for use in sports recovery. The device consists of sleeves for the limbs (arms or legs) and a computer-controlled compressor (see Figure 13.2). The athlete rests while the system applies the patented peristaltic (wavelike pulse) dynamic compression to the limb to maximize circulation.
Physiologist Bill Sands says that apart from smart training, rest, and a good diet, the NormaTec MVP Pro is the best recovery tool available. He explains that static compression, like that applied by compression garments, is much less powerful for enhancing recovery than dynamic compression. Dynamic compression helps pump lymph out of the swollen, edematous tissues where it accumulates. In addition, he says, peristaltic compression will reduce inflammation. While massage can help, Sands says, “it’s hard to encircle an entire limb with your hands. It’ll make you feel better, but it won’t enhance performance.” Pro triathlete Amanda Lovato says that for recovery after a hard or long workout, “I’ll do ice bath first, then NormaTec boots. They squeeze your legs; you can feel it pulsing. It’s like somebody rubbing your legs out, getting the blood to flow through your legs. I’ve never felt so recovered as I do with the NormaTec boots. I don’t know how I lived without them.” Elite age grouper Thomas Laffont agrees. “The MVP system is the best recovery tool I’ve used,” he says. “It is very simple to use, just put your legs in the sleeves and press a button. And it feels great! I’m amazed by how well my legs recover the next day after a hard workout.” His routine is to ice 10 to 15 minutes after every workout and use the MVP system for 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the length of the workout.
Gilad Jacobs, head of sports products at NormaTec, reports that the U.S. Olympic Committee took over 40 NormaTec Pro systems to the winter Olympics in 2010. Teams such as Garmin-Transitions; Ironman world champions Craig Alexander and Chrissie Wellington; and athletes such as Meb Keflezighi, Tim DeBoom, Sam McGlone, Ryan Hall, Matt Reed, David Zabriskie, and siblings Jenna and Jarrod Shoemaker use the device as well. But at almost $5,000, the MVP Pro is priced out of range for most athletes. With the introduction of the NormaTec MVP in 2011, the “baby brother” to the MVP Pro, pricing is slightly more in line with the average consumer’s budget: MVP units cost around $1,500. The biggest difference is in customization and programmability. The pro system can be adjusted with timing and individual pressure in each of the five zones, while the new MVP model will have an adjustment knob for overall pressure.
The bottom line: If you have the means to use one of these machines, do. Many athletes from pros to age groupers have raved to me about their benefits.

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