Stress Reaction and Recovery

There are countless types of jobs in this world, each requiring varying amounts of energy to perform. Whether you are sitting at a desk or laboring outside, work takes a toll on your health. Both the physical and mental demands of work fatigue the body and, without appropriate rest and care, you may be at risk for long-term exhaustion and other health issues.

The stress of workdays is exacerbated by the pace and hectic nature of our lives. Most people make little time to address their need for recovery at the end of each day and this can affect your ability to perform well at work and in daily life.

When your body reaches certain levels of exhaustion, you are at a higher risk of injury, fatigue-related illnesses and even long-term disabilities. You can avoid these health issues by determining the intensity levels of your work using %VO2max then adjust your workload accordingly.

Assess your stress

Stress has a bad reputation in today’s society; however, it does have its purpose in our daily lives. In moderation, stress can increase motivation and improve concentration. Unfortunately, most people experience too much stress in their daily lives which can negatively impact the body and mind.

Stress presents itself in two major ways: momentary and accumulative. Momentary stress (stress reaction) can manifest itself in minor disturbances such as lack of concentration and emotional overload. If left untreated, momentary stress can lead to increases in accumulative stress. Accumulative stress is associated with occupational accidents, long-term health issues and other serious, stress-related illnesses.

QAthlete monitors and assesses your level of activity by measuring your heart rate. These measurements can help determine if you are working at a healthy intensity and if you are recovering sufficiently from your day’s activities.

Heart rate measurements are taken on two days with similar activities. Measurements are recorded in a log which includes associated information such as daily tasks, breaks, work events and emotional responses.

Manage your daily stress

Recovering from stress plays a vital role in your health. Your general wellbeing is dramatically affected by your stress levels. From feeling overloaded to emotionally drained, stress can wreak havoc on both your work and home life. These physical indicators are your body’s way of telling you to rest and recover.

Left unheeded, these symptoms can progress rapidly and produce severe fatigue-related illnesses and long-term health issues. For this reason, it is important that you understand the affect of work and stress on your body and recover sufficiently each day.

Stress and Recovery

QAthlete creates a window into your body’s condition. Using the system, you are easily able to determine how your body responds to both stress and recovery factors.

Reveal valuable information about your body’s health including if you are getting enough sleep at night for proper recovery or if your body is being overly taxed at work. Assess your stress at the end of a work day versus during the weekend to gain insight into your body’s varying stress levels. Use this information to adjust your activities and create a healthier approach to work.

How it works

QAthlete momentary stress and recovery analysis was developed in cooperation with several research projects in the fields of exercise physiology, behavioral sciences, and applied mathematics. Data gleaned in the area of stress measurement and autonomic nervous system (ANS) function was used to develop a highly effective method of measuring and analyzing Heart Rate Variability (HRV).

Using Heart Rate Variability (HRV) data, QAthlete is able to assess changes in the body’s physiological functioning (autonomic nervous system (ANS)). Further, it is able to distinguish ANS stress reactions caused by immediate physical demands versus other factors, such as mental or emotional stress.

Key benefits of QAthlete stress and recovery monitoring:

• Analysis of daily activities for determining areas of stress and recovery
• Accurate evaluation of momentary stress levels
• Indication of stress overload
• Follow-up resources for proper recovery
• Straightforward, easy-to-understand reports

Reports are prepared using your Heart Rate Measurements. For stress and recovery, QAthlete offers two unique reports:

• Stress Reaction Report
• Resources and Recovery Report

Stress Reaction Report

QAthlete’s Stress Reaction report evaluates your momentary stress management by analyzing periods of stress and recovery during a session. Data collected is used to illustrate the physiological reactions associated with stress and recovery. This report is appropriate for any individual interested in monitoring lifestyle and work-related stress.

QAthlete’s Stress Reaction Report features

• Momentary stress and recovery chart
• Identification of reactive periods (i.e. identify when stress occurs)
• Analysis of stress and recovery levels across an 8-hour workday
• Follow-up resources

QAthlete’s Stress Reaction Report applications

• Identify peaks and valleys in stress and recovery during a workday
• Monitor day-to-day stress and recovery levels
• Analyze body’s response to specific tasks
• Analyze the influence of physical activity on stress levels
• Use measurements to develop comprehensive analysis of stress and recovery states
• Identify high stress and recovery states to illustrate optimal balance
• Facilitate appropriate lifestyle changes

Resources and Recovery Report

Measuring recovery and remaining resources is vital to understanding stress. Without proper recovery, your ability to perform well can be drastically reduced. QAthlete measures the physical changes in your body’s resources to determine the balance of stress and recovery states.

Using this report you are able to determine if you are getting enough sleep at night or overworking your body during the day. This report is appropriate for any individual interested in gaining detailed insight into his/her body’s resources and capacity for recovery.

QAthlete’s Resources and Recovery Report features

• Resources chart
• Identification of recovery states
• Analysis of stress and recovery states in segments of equal length
• Analysis of balance between stress and recovery
• Follow-up resources

QAthlete’s Resources and Recovery Report applications

• Monitor fluctuations in the body’s resources throughout the day
• Analyze the impact of specific tasks on the body’s resources
• Monitor the body’s ability to adapt and develop resource balance