Sore muscles are a sign you have pushed yourself too hard during a workout, or that you have attempted a new exercise. Yet, you may also experience delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), which can creep up on you over time. To help you make a full recovery, read the following advice on how to relieve aching muscles after exercise.
Stretch Before and After Exercise
Stretching is the best defence for sore muscles, as it can lengthen them throughout exercise to increase mobility and support recovery. It is, therefore, essential to stretch both before and after exercise to eliminate aches and pains the next day.
Enjoy a Relaxing Massage
Say goodbye to muscle soreness and tension by enjoying a relaxing massage, which can target your sore spots to loosen your muscles, reduce aches and pains, and increase your mobility. For more information on the best massages to relax your muscles, visit http://heavenandearthmassage.co.uk/
Consume Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Inflammation is often the biggest cause of sore muscles. Counteract the inflammation by consuming foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. For example, you should eat salmon, avocado, walnuts or free-range meat after a workout. Omega-3 fatty acids can effectively ease muscle soreness, as it contains natural anti-inflammatory properties, so can support the recovery process following overexertion.
Keep Moving
You might dread the thought of moving your body when you have sore muscles, but that’s exactly what you need to do to recover quickly. There are various recovery workouts that will help iron out those troublesome muscular kinks, which can prevent aching muscles. You can trust you’ll feel much better by the end of the workout.
Ice Your Muscles
Prevent inflammation by immediately applying ice to your muscles following a tough workout. If you prevent inflammation, your body will move with greater ease, which can promote healing. It’s so effective that the world’s top athletes in various sports use ice for muscle recovery following a training session, as it can speed up healing.
Hydrate Your Body During a Workout
Dehydration can negatively affect your health in different ways. In addition to impacting your organs’ functions, it can also cause unwanted muscle pain. It is, therefore, important to hydrate your body both before, during and after exercise, as it can prevent cramping whilst reducing inflammation following a workout.
Apply a Heat Source
Once a few hours have passed following a workout, apply a heat source onto your muscles, such as a heat pad. This can loosen tight muscles that can lead to discomfort and pain, as it stimulates blood flow, so it’s a fast-acting healing solution.
Eat Pineapple
Here’s one recovery tip that might surprise you: eat pineapple to ease muscular pain. It’s believed the enzyme bromelain found in pineapples offers anti-inflammatory properties, which is reportedly similar to anti-inflammatory medications. So, reach for the fruit following a workout to reduce pain and increase mobility. You’ll feel better for doing so.
Have you got any helpful methods for alleviating pain following exercise? Please post a comment below.