Training and performance
Recovery technology: claims and evidence
Cold plunges, saunas, compression and massage guns: a fast-growing market, the claims made for it, and what the research says.
Out now: the UK and Nordic fitness market report, 2026 edition. See the report
The training methods getting the most attention right now, from hybrid racing to Zone 2, set against what published research actually shows.
This is a digital research report. It doesn't sell or promote any product, and nothing in it is medical, training, nutrition, legal or investment advice.
Every year a handful of training ideas take over gym floors and social feeds. This review takes the most talked-about trends of 2026, explains why they spread, and summarises what peer-reviewed research does and doesn't support, with the strength of the evidence stated plainly.
It is written for coaches, operators, product teams and journalists. It is general information, not personal training or medical advice.
Peer-reviewed research, systematic reviews and position statements from sports-science bodies, with participation data where published. Not training or medical advice.
Training and performance
Cold plunges, saunas, compression and massage guns: a fast-growing market, the claims made for it, and what the research says.