Post-exercise recovery during the month of Ramadan

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Published Jul 1, 2025
https://doi.org/10.62438/tunismed.v103i7.5775
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Vol. 103 No. 7 (2025): Tunis Med Jul 2025

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Abd-Elbasset Abaïdia
UR UPJV 3300 APERE, University of Picardy Jules Verne, Amiens, France.

Abstract

Introduction: Participating in a sport inducing muscle damage with a long duration leads to the appearance of fatigue. This fatigue can persist over time, but it can also be limited by the use of different recovery strategies. During Ramadan, the limitation of nutritional intake and the possible disruption of sleep can have an impact on the quality of post-exercise recovery. It is therefore important to adapt the strategies to be implemented among athletes performing in this context. The aim of the present study was to was to address the impact of Ramadan fasting on post-exercise recovery.


Methods: narrative review.


Results: We have described recovery, its physiological mechanisms and the importance of implementing a suitable protocol to accelerate recovery following a competition or training. We have discussed also the impact of fasting during the month of Ramadan on the athlete's ability to recover. Finally, we have proposed practical applications to optimize recovery in fasted athletes during the month of Ramadan.


Conclusion: Although post-exercise fatigue seems higher when fasting, recovery kinetics of performance are not impacted. However, it is appropriate to use some recovery strategies, particularly during congested schedules.

Keywords:

eccentric exercise, fatigue, fast, muscle damage, sport

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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