The Importance of Recovery for Physical and Mental Health

Michael Kellmann is Professor of Sport Psychology at the Faculty of Sport Science at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany. He is also an Honorary Professor in the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Queensland, Australia. Sarah Jakowski is a Researcher and Lecturer at the Department of Sport Psychology, Faculty of Sport Science, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany. She has a doctoral degree in Sport Science (PhD) and a Master of Science in Psychology. Jürgen Beckmann is Professor of Sport Psychology, Emeritus of Excellence at the School of Medicine and Health at Technical University of Munich, Germany. He is also Honorary Professor in the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Queensland, Australia, and Adjunct Professor at the Deptartment of Physical Education and Sport Sciences of the University of Limerick, Ireland.

1. The importance of recovery: A long time neglected crucial concept for health and performance

Sarah Jakowski, Jahan Heidari, and Michael Kellmann

2. Recovery and its impact on health

Kristen Dieffenbach

3. Recovery and stress reactivity

K. Wolfgang Kallus

4. Self-regulation of recovery

Jürgen Beckmann

5. Underrecovery in elite athletes: Antecedents, implications, and prevention strategies

Leslie Podlog, Cristiana Conti, Selenia di Fronso, and Maurizio Bertollo

6. Quality of life and recovery

Tsz Lun (Alan) Chu, Robert J. Harmison, and Scott B. Martin

7. Resilience and recovery processes in sports

Varley Teoldo Costa, Franco Noce, Camila Cristina Fonseca Bicalho, and Guilherme de Sousa Pinheiro

8. Recovery and the immune system

Simon Haunhorst, Wilhelm Bloch, and Christian Puta

9. Sleep to heal and restore: The role of sleep in the recovery and regeneration process

Sarah Jakowski, Asja Kiel, Lisa Kullik, and Daniel Erlacher

10. Physical activity as recovery resource for mental health in young people

Asaduzzaman Khan and Nicola W. Burton

11. Physical activity as recovery resource for mental health in adults

Nicola W. Burton and Asaduzzaman Khan

12. Impact of long COVID on recovery in sport and exercise

Simon Haunhorst, Wilhelm Bloch, and Christian Puta

13. The challenge of school and participation in elite sports: Implications for the prevention of stress and mental health issues

Markus Gerber

14. Exercise stress and recovery in active ageing individuals and masters athletes

Peter R. Reaburn and John F. T. Fernandes

15. Concluding discussion: Recovery is more than just healing. Advocating a broader perspective on recovery in physical and mental health

Jürgen Beckmann, Michael Kellmann, and Sarah Jakowski