How Do Athletes Deal With Muscle Soreness?

By Author: biofrost
Total Articles: 19
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Although playing sports is fun, being an athlete is no easy task, from extreme pressure, excruciating training, lost matches, mental issues, to missed social events, regardless of what sport you play, you are bound to face these issues. The worst of them all is that you are prone to injuries, both minor and major. A twisted ankle, a pulled hamstring, knotted traps, and sore muscles can become quite a nuisance if not treated in time. The strain on your muscles from all the repetitive motions and high-intensity exercises leads to sore muscles. Dealing with sore and stiff muscles can get in the way of your training and very often leave beginners feeling discouraged. While a muscle pain relief gel might help sometimes, visiting a doctor is extremely important if the pain is unbearable. Let’s look at a few things that you can do on your own to try to curb the pain and make life a bit easier.

Stretching - Both beginners and experienced athletes suffer from sore and stiff muscles and one of the easiest ways to prevent and ease them is to get in some stretches before and after you finish training. Stretches aid in recovery ...
... by promoting blood circulation. A few stretches that can have a positive impact on various sore muscles are - quadricep stretches, hamstring stretches, groin stretches, calf stretches, hip flexor stretches, and seated trapezius stretches. Make sure you do these stretches gently and slowly so as to not further aggravate the issue. Also, you must take into account that your range of motion might be reduced. These stretches not only help alleviate the discomfort but also help calm your mind.

Topical pain relief gels and sprays - Over-the-counter pain relief gels and sprays are directly applied over the affected area. While the traditional variety contains methyl salicylate (wintergreen oil) that gives them that minty cool smell and cooling sensation, new-age ones rely on safe and natural ingredients like pudina leaf extract (mentha arvensis) for the same effect. They work by reducing nerve activity that sends ‘pain’ signals to your brain. The best pain relief spray or gel will include more natural ingredients that are safe for regular use like aloe vera, green tea, and calendula. Make sure you do not apply them over damaged skin or wounds.

Compression garments -
When you strain a muscle, it tends to get inflamed which increases the number of white blood cells in that area. This is what causes swelling and pain. Wearing a compression garment after exercising constricts those muscles and increases blood flow to that area which reduces the levels of fluid buildup, reduces creatine kinase and decreases the pressure and swelling. The most common compression garments are socks, sleeves, and leggings. Although, you can find compression garments for most of the muscles.

While sore muscles are a normal and regular concern among athletes, the amount and intensity of soreness can be reduced and recovery can be sped up by taking adequate measures like using a fast relief gel before, during, and post training.