Reviewed by Corrina Bonshek, Co-founder of Better Earthing on on 31/05/2026
Earthing for Sports Recovery – Kimberly’s Story
Kimberly is a 25-year-old semi-professional athlete who started earthing to assist with recovery and increase her training intensity.
Kimberly has suffered several injuries that have kept her from playing soccer for extended periods. These range from ankle injuries and torn ligaments to quad and groin strains.
Natural Recovery Support for Active Athletes
“Typically the strains, the muscle strains, take me out for three to four weeks, and then the bigger ankle injuries take me out for a lot longer. “
“In the past, the first point of call was going to the physio. They give me a rehabilitation program, often involving specific exercises and then a gradual return to play. I manage at home with hot and cold therapies and take antiinflammatories when necessary.”
Kimberly decided to try earthing to help manage her recovery after training and games, with great success.
“I had a flare of my ankle injury mid-last year. Mum suggested I try an Earthing Wrap, which I started using regularly after games and after training; it was very easy to use. I had it close to where I sat watching TV, so had it plugged in, and then would wrap it around my ankle. But then after that, I was feeling much better; I’d wrap it around any problem area, and I would just sit and let it do its thing.”
Using Earthing to Support Injury Recovery and Performance
Kimberly then decided to start using a Fabric Grounding Mat as well.
” I have the mat on my main chair where I sit and read and have my breakfast every morning. So I’m sitting on the mat for about 20 minutes every morning. It’s part of my daily routine now.”
When asked about her overall experience with the earthing products and their effect on her performance and recovery, Kimberly had this to offer.
“My muscle recovery time and how I’m feeling in terms of my fatigue have improved.”
“My trainings were twice a week with games on the weekend, and now they’ve progressed to three nights a week with games on the weekend. I’m not feeling any additional strain”
Reducing Fatigue and Supporting Athletic Recovery
She adds:
“I’ve definitely noticed an improvement in my general health but also recovery since I’ve been earthing regularly. I think my overall understanding of recovery and how to treat my body has improved too.”
For Kimberly, grounding has become part of a broader recovery routine that supports her active lifestyle and ongoing training demands.
Even though we are not all professional athletes, we can all benefit from including exercise in our daily routine. When we encounter challenges such as pain and muscle aches, it can derail our exercise. Including simple and effective strategies, such as earthing, can help us to stay on track to better health and vitality. You can read more about the benefits of earthing here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do athletes experience muscle soreness after intense exercise?
After hard training sessions, games, or unfamiliar exercise, the body goes through a normal repair process. This can cause muscle soreness, fatigue, stiffness, and temporary inflammation, often referred to as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Recovery becomes especially important for athletes training multiple times per week or returning from injury.
Has grounding been studied for exercise recovery?
A small number of studies have explored grounding and sports recovery. Early studies have reported differences in markers associated with inflammation, muscle damage, and recovery following exercise (Brown et al., 2015 and Muller et al., 2019). While more research is needed, these early findings have created growing interest in grounding within the recovery space.
Why do many athletes focus on recovery between training sessions?
Training creates physical stress on the body, but improvements in fitness and performance happen during recovery. Good recovery habits may help athletes maintain training consistency, support muscle repair, and reduce accumulated fatigue over time.
What role does inflammation play in sports recovery?
Inflammation is a normal part of the body’s response to exercise and injury. However, prolonged or excessive inflammation may affect comfort, recovery time, and how the body feels during ongoing training. Some grounding studies have explored its potential role in supporting a healthy inflammatory response after exercise (Oschman et al, 2015).
Why do some athletes use grounding daily rather than only after exercise?
Many people use grounding as part of their overall wellbeing routine rather than only after training. Regular use may support relaxation, recovery, and general wellbeing, particularly during periods of higher physical demand.
Can grounding replace rehabilitation or professional sports recovery advice?
No. Grounding should not be viewed as a replacement for medical care, physiotherapy, rehabilitation programs, or professional sports recovery guidance. Athletes who use grounding generally do so alongside established recovery practices such as strength training, mobility work, sleep, hydration, nutrition, and physiotherapy support.
To learn more about the research behind grounding and recovery, visit our Grounding Research Studies page.
