Perceptions and use of recovery strategies in water polo players and coaches : a worldwide survey

• Published in: Journal of exercise rehabilitation Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 112 - 123
• Main Authors: Barrenetxea-Garcia, Josu, Perazzetti, Andrea, Nuell, Sergi, Mielgo-Ayuso, Juan, Villarreal, Eduardo Sáez de, Calleja-González, Julio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korean Society of Exercise Rehabilitation 01.06.2024; 한국운동재활학회
• Subjects: Original; 심리과학; Team management; Athletes; Recovery methods; Ques-tionnaire; Team sports
• ISSN: 2288-176X; 2288-1778
• DOI: 10.12965/jer.2448214.107

The objective of this study was to assess the perceived usefulness, ac-tual use and limitations for the application of recovery strategies among water polo (WP) players and their coaches around the world. A total of 231 WP players and 76 coaches representing all continents, both gen-ders and all levels of competition, completed a freely accessible online survey. This was divided into three sections: sociodemographic data (8 questions), importance of perceived usefulness of recovery strate-gies (3 questions), and actual use of recovery methods (6 questions). The majority of players and coaches considered recovery strategies as very important (52.4% and 59.2%, respectively) and posttraining session (28.1% and 26.5%) were the most frequently used times. The most se-lected reasons to justify their use were to reduce the injury risk (30.4% and 26.9%) and the most limitation to the use of recovery strategies were that they are too time-consuming (34.9% and 29%). In the case of the players, stretching were the strategies perceived as most useful and used (12.7% and 18.1%); and in the case of the coaches, it was ac-tive recovery (11.2% and 15%). The present study suggests a degree of discrepancy between the scientific literature and the research partici-pants’ perceptions and usages of recovery methods. This information may be of interest for coaches and technical staff of WP teams to look for appropriate recovery strategies for the improvement of their players’ performance.