Posted on November 28, 2022 by Courtney Williams
Let’s start by looking at the definition of tapering. Verb: Diminish or reduce in thickness towards the end. Noun: A gradual narrowing. Whether ‘taper’ is described as a verb or a noun, the fact is that it means ‘reduction happens towards the end.’
It won’t surprise you then that tapering in sports involves decreasing training in the weeks leading up to an event.
The reason tapering is used, is to get rid of the cumulative fatigue and muscle soreness from endurance training, while maintaining (or even increasing) fitness levels. Studies have shown that tapering can increase an athlete’s performance by approximately 3% if done correctly.
When tapering, athletes are able to recover from the small niggling injuries gained from intense exercise whilst staying conditioned for the competition they’ve been training for. This allows athletes to perform at their very best come event day. Tapering is usually employed in the last 2-4 weeks before the competition.
So let’s face it! Anything tapered has a narrow ending… Like tapered trousers, they look and feel great, and narrows toward the ankle to give a slimming effect. Whilst still maintaining the quality and in fact, enhancing the estimated end result. Tapering in fitness is no different.
A quick one to digest. Have a good’n 😊