Westfield State Sports Medicine Blog

  In the world of fitness and performance, we’re often reminded that what we do during our waking hours – the intense workouts, the carefully planned meals – shapes the foundation of our physical progress. What if there’s a hidden chapter in this narrative, a period of potential gains that occurs while we’re tucked into the realm of dreams? Imagine a scenario where the hours you spend sleeping could be a secret weapon in your fitness arsenal. Welcome to the fascinating realm of pre-sleep protein intake and its profound effects on muscular adaptations and overnight recovery.  Diving into the intricate relationship between sleep and muscle repair, we uncover the idea where the right protein choices at the right time may unlock untapped potential.  Are you ready to explore the science behind the pillow and the plate? The Role of Protein in Muscle Recovery Proteins are the building blocks of muscle tissue. They contain essential amino acids, the key pieces in repairing and rebuilding muscl

Does Cryotherapy Improve Post Performance Recovery?  Is ice really the best answer?     Introduction: What is Cryotherapy: Just about anyone at some point in their lives has used some form of cryotherapy on themselves from a simple ice pack all the way up to having a whole body cryotherapy done in a cryo-chamber. Why do we use the cold on our body?  What do we use it for: Medical professionals have been giving athletes cryotherapy in all its forms for years as a way to combat muscle soreness, fatigue, injury recovery time, to even improving sleep. What Studies are Finding: The research shows that cryotherapy, as it is used currently, does not have the results that it is believed to and has limited efficacy overall, compared to passive recovery.​     A study done in 2022  found that cold water immersion had no benefits  over passive recovery after 120 minutes of muscle fatigue onset  A study done in 2021  found evidence that blood lactate levels were reduced following whole body cryothe