Grounding and muscle recovery: three studies with positive results

Controlled recovery research found more favourable changes in strength, jump performance and creatine kinase among participants who slept grounded.

Written and source-checked by the Earthle editorial team · Updated on September 10, 2026

Earthle aardingsyogamat in de draagtas tegen een dennenstam in het bos

Recovery is one of the most interesting uses of grounding. Three controlled studies examined exercise, blood values and the days that followed. Their results point in the same direction: regular electrical contact with the Earth accompanied more favourable recovery markers.

Ten nights of grounded sleep after heavy exercise

In 2019, 22 healthy participants completed downhill treadmill running designed to create marked fatigue and muscle damage. One group then slept grounded for ten nights while the other used an identical sham setup. Participants, testers and data analysts were blinded. With grounded sleep, reductions in jump performance and maximum strength and the rise in creatine kinase were less pronounced. The differences were statistically significant.

A second controlled study confirmed the CK signal

In 2015, 32 young men performed 200 half-knee bends before active or sham grounding. On day two, creatine kinase rose clearly in the sham group while that rise was absent in the grounded group; the between-group difference was significant. Several blood-cell measures also followed a different pattern.

Shorter studies found a similar pattern

An earlier eight-person pilot reported differences in pain measures, white blood cells and several biochemical recovery values. A double-blind crossover study of 42 cyclists also measured lower blood urea during grounded exercise and recovery.

How grounding fits a recovery routine

Sleep grounded after demanding training so the contact takes no extra time.
Use a yoga mat for gentle stretching, mobility or a cool-down.
Keep training, sleep and nutrition stable when observing your response.
Track repeatable outcomes such as morning energy or training performance alongside how you feel.

These studies give a positive rationale for grounding as a recovery-supporting wellness routine. Larger trials can identify who benefits most and after which kinds of training.

Which Earthle product fits this use

For long contact after exercise, the Earthle Sleep Mat or Earthing Sheet is the simplest choice. The Yoga Mat fits stretching and calm recovery immediately after training.

Explore Earthle products for recovery

Sources

Further reading: Grounding and sport · Is grounding nonsense?

Sources

Müller et al., Frontiers in Physiology, 2019 Bij 22 deelnemers die na zware inspanning tien nachten geaard sliepen, waren het verlies aan sprongkracht en de stijging van creatinekinase kleiner dan bij de sham-groep; het resultaat is statistisch significant, maar nog niet op grotere schaal herhaald.
Brown, Chevalier & Hill, Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine, 2015 Bij 32 jonge mannen bleef de bekende stijging van creatinekinase na training uit in de geaarde groep, terwijl de sham-groep wel steeg; de deelnemers waren allemaal jonge mannen, dus of het bij andere groepen hetzelfde werkt is niet getest.
Brown, Chevalier & Hill, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010 In deze pilotstudie met acht deelnemers verliep spierpijn en spierschade na een zware training milder bij de vier geaarde deelnemers dan bij de vier controles; de auteurs noemen het zelf een pilot en roepen op tot groter vervolgonderzoek.
Sokal et al., Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013 In dit dubbelblinde crossoveronderzoek bij 42 fietsers was het ureumgehalte lager tijdens geaarde inspanning en herstel; de onderzoeksgroep is beperkt tot deze ene sport en dit ene meetmoment.