Nervous System Recovery: Olympian BJ Cole on Post-Run Mobility & Isometrics
Feb 27, 2025
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In this talk, Olympic 400m hurdler BJ Cole shares expert recovery strategies for runners. He delves into systemic and peripheral recovery techniques, emphasizing what many runners often overlook. BJ highlights the benefits of breathwork for regulating the nervous system and introduces the essential tools like foam rollers and percussion guns. He discusses crucial concepts for joint mobility, the 'three T's,' and offers a practical 15-minute recovery routine. Cole’s insights are geared towards helping athletes enhance their performance and recover effectively.
BJ Cole emphasizes the importance of self-care and body management for endurance runners to enhance recovery strategies.
The podcast outlines systemic and peripheral recovery techniques, highlighting breath work and physical treatments like foam rolling for optimal recovery.
BJ introduces the three T’s framework—Therapy, Traction, and Tension—to improve joint mobility and promote efficient movement for athletes.
Deep dives
Introduction to BJ Cole's Expertise
BJ Cole, an Olympic 400-meter hurdler, shares his extensive background in high-performance sports, including massage therapy, strength coaching, and his experience with athletes. He emphasizes the significance of self-care and body management, particularly for endurance runners who often overlook these aspects. Through his experiences at the Australian Institute of Sport, he developed a comprehensive program that educates athletes about understanding and taking care of their bodies. BJ aims to provide tools beyond traditional treatments to help athletes maintain their health and performance.
Effective Recovery Techniques
The podcast highlights the need for effective recovery techniques that extend beyond mere cool-down routines, focusing instead on calming the nervous system after workouts. BJ outlines various strategies categorized as systemic or peripheral, wherein systemic practices, like breath work, facilitate an overall calming effect on the body. Breath techniques such as box breathing can actively switch the nervous system from a stress response to a calming state. Conversely, peripheral methods include physical treatments like foam rolling and using tools like tennis balls for muscle relief, proposing a balanced approach to recovery.
The Three T's for Joint Mobility
Cole introduces a framework called the three T’s: Therapy, Traction, and Tension, to enhance joint mobility and overall movement efficiency. Therapy involves techniques that relieve muscle tightness and remove obstructions, while Traction focuses on creating space within the joints to promote better movement. Lastly, Tension encourages muscle engagement through isometric holds, allowing the brain to recognize new ranges of motion. This combination improves mobility outcomes for athletes, highlighting that simply achieving flexibility isn’t enough; the ability to control and own that movement is paramount.
Customizing Recovery for Individual Needs
BJ discusses the need to customize recovery strategies based on individual athlete profiles, differentiating between aerial and ground-based athletes. Aerial athletes often exhibit a more pronounced head movement during running, suggesting a need for different recovery approaches than those who are ground-based. He suggests employing tools like tennis balls or foam rollers differently based on one's body tension and response patterns. This individualized approach underscores the importance of understanding one's unique physicality to optimize recovery and performance.
Practical Post-Run Routine for Runners
BJ outlines a practical 10-15 minute recovery routine tailored for runners after their training sessions. The routine begins with breath work to transition the body, followed by a series of dynamic movements to assess tightness and mobility. Athletes are encouraged to perform self-release techniques such as foam rolling or tennis ball work to target specific tight areas, while also incorporating isometric exercises to activate muscles. Finally, immersing oneself in water, whether through a bath or a cold plunge, serves as both a physical and psychological cooldown, helping to lower heart rates and aid recovery.
Download the free Little Black Book of Recovery & Prevention. Hear from 9 pro athletes on their favorite recovery strategies, including Dathan Ritzenhein, Ian Sharman, Amelia Boone, David Roche, and others. strengthrunning.com/elites
Thank you 2Before!
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Thank you to 2Before for supporting Strength Running!
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