Sore muscles are something of a two-edged sword. They don’t feel great, but you can be proud of yourself that your hard work at the gym is paying off. The pain is a direct result of working your muscles hard or trying a new exercise that pushes your body more than anticipated. Microscopic tears form in those muscular fibers, leading to the stiff sensation. The good news is that there are ways to alleviate the discomfort. Here are a few suggestions.
How to Minimize Soreness After a Workout
1. Treat Yourself to a Massage
No matter what type of workout you do, the aftermath can be brutal if your muscles are sore and uncomfortable. You can ease that pain by going to a masseuse for regular treatment. Studies have shown that stimulating the muscles through therapeutic manipulation could alleviate the discomfort associated with delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and may even boost muscle performance after a heavy-duty workout.
2. Eat Your Way to Comfort
While eating alone won’t reduce your pain, consuming the right foods can help release lactic acids from your muscles. It’s this substance that builds up in the muscles during your gym and strength training sessions, causing that familiar burn. Some foods are naturally thought to alleviate the pain by stimulating lactic acid flow.
A study found that consuming tart cherry juice regularly could minimize muscle pain. Adding curcumin supplements to your routine may also help; a study revealed that it may have a minimal effect on reducing inflammation. Other beneficial options include eggs and pineapple.
3. Get to Know Dynamic Stretches
There are two types of stretches you can perform prior to your workout: dynamic and static. The former can help you avoid the soreness that typically settles in after an especially intense gym session. This type of stretch involves movement, while static stretching is performed in place. Common dynamic stretches include walking knee lunges and walking leg pulls. These types of movements gently work the muscles, warm up the body, and prepare them to endure more during the workout.
