The 5 Best Ways to Relieve Muscle Soreness

Aching after a tough sweat session? Is your body in pain? Contrary to popular belief, muscle soreness doesn’t necessarily indicate a good workout. It’s actually a sign of overtraining, poor nutrition, or insufficient rest. This problem can ruin your training session and keep you from reaching from fitness goals.

The good news is that you can relieve muscle soreness naturally without the need for painkillers. Here are some tips to speed up recovery:

Stretch Properly

Gentle stretching can help ease muscle soreness and pain. After a challenging workout, muscles tend to tighten up. At the same time, your joints may become stiff and swollen. Do a few basic stretches to accelerate healing and relieve pain.

Use Ice

Applying ice on the affected areas helps reduce soreness and inflammation. Simply wrap ice cubes into a cloth and place it on your arms, quads, and other muscles that feel tight. Repeat several times throughout the day.

Try Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the best ways to relieve delayed onset muscle soreness and speed up healing. This therapy decreases the brain’s message of pain and boosts your endorphin levels. It’s particularly beneficial for athletes and active individuals training for a marathon, race, or other competition.

Drink Tart Cherry Juice

Studies have found that tart cherry juice reduces muscle pain and damage after intense training. This fruit contains powerful anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidants that help flush out the metabolic waste produced during exercise. Drink tart cherry juice before working out to reap its benefits.

Give Foam Rolling a Try

Foam rolling has emerged as one of the most effective cures for sore muscles. This massage style requires a foam roller, which can found in any health store. When done right, it helps prevent scarring of the connective tissue, reduces pain, and improves your range of motion. Foam rollers come in all shapes and sizes, and have a low price tag.