s winter gives way to spring, people know summer will show up
eventually, so they check with their doctors and start a workout
routine. This leads to tight, aching muscles, which leads to a need for pain relief. That said do you know the best ways to treat sore muscles? Here are a few options:
Topical Pain Relief:
Whether it’s in the form of salves, patches, gels or creams, topical pain relief offers a non-invasive, often inexpensive option to soothing aching or sore muscles. There are four basic types: analgesics, capsaicin, counter-irritants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. These all work differently but are used to provide some cessation of soft tissue pain.
Hot and Cold Treatment:
People tend to know they can use heat or ice packs for sore muscles, but many of them don’t know when to use which method. Use a towel-wrapped ice pack on muscled for immediate relief. This will control inflammation and even reduce it. Use heat after some time has passed to relieve joint pain and improve blood flow.
Stretch:
It used to be thought that stretching should be done before an activity, but now people are being coached to follow a good warm-up routine, follow through with their activity and then stretch. This is effective because your muscles are warm and more pliable than before your exertion.
Massage:
A post-workout massage provides documented relief to exerted muscles. A study published in Science Translational Medicine showed what happened to muscles after a massage. It turns out that massage can reduce the production of Cytokines, compounds that promote inflammation. Massage also stimulated mitochondria, which turns glucose into energy used for cell function and repair. Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky, a Professor and Division Head of Neuromuscular and Neurometabolic Disorders in the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University said, “There’s some theoretical concern that there is a maladaptive response in the long run if you’re constantly suppressing inflammation with drugs, but with massage, you can have your cake and eat it too—massage can suppress inflammation and actually enhance cell recovery.”
Of course there are numerous ways to combat sore muscles, but the ones listed here are simple and inexpensive pain relief options. Talk with your medical professional before using any remedy, but know that having sore muscles often just means you’re using them.
Topical Pain Relief:
Whether it’s in the form of salves, patches, gels or creams, topical pain relief offers a non-invasive, often inexpensive option to soothing aching or sore muscles. There are four basic types: analgesics, capsaicin, counter-irritants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. These all work differently but are used to provide some cessation of soft tissue pain.
Hot and Cold Treatment:
People tend to know they can use heat or ice packs for sore muscles, but many of them don’t know when to use which method. Use a towel-wrapped ice pack on muscled for immediate relief. This will control inflammation and even reduce it. Use heat after some time has passed to relieve joint pain and improve blood flow.
Stretch:
It used to be thought that stretching should be done before an activity, but now people are being coached to follow a good warm-up routine, follow through with their activity and then stretch. This is effective because your muscles are warm and more pliable than before your exertion.
Massage:
A post-workout massage provides documented relief to exerted muscles. A study published in Science Translational Medicine showed what happened to muscles after a massage. It turns out that massage can reduce the production of Cytokines, compounds that promote inflammation. Massage also stimulated mitochondria, which turns glucose into energy used for cell function and repair. Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky, a Professor and Division Head of Neuromuscular and Neurometabolic Disorders in the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University said, “There’s some theoretical concern that there is a maladaptive response in the long run if you’re constantly suppressing inflammation with drugs, but with massage, you can have your cake and eat it too—massage can suppress inflammation and actually enhance cell recovery.”
Of course there are numerous ways to combat sore muscles, but the ones listed here are simple and inexpensive pain relief options. Talk with your medical professional before using any remedy, but know that having sore muscles often just means you’re using them.
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