AbstractThe characteristic fetures of isobaric volume and enthalpy recovery of glasses are briefly recalled and analysed in terms of a multiparameter model involving a distribution of retardation times, τi. The latter are assumed to depend both on temperature and on the instantaneous state (structure) of the glass, whereas the shape of the retardation spectrum is invariant and merely shifts, as τi, along the logarithmic time scale. Qualitative comparison of the theoretical predictions with various types of experiment reveals an excellent agreement. Some effects of structural recovery on the mechanical, or electrical properties of polymer glasses are also recalled and discussed in terms of the theoretical modelThe text which follows is merely an extended abstract of the work published elsewhere (see Refs 5&10)