Muscle Soreness

Muscle soreness, stiffness or pain, which is felt 12-48 hours after physical activity is known as delayed onset muscle soreness and is a fairly normal response and is part of an adaptation process. It’s caused by microscopic tearing of the muscle tissue and the amount of tearing and resulting soreness depends on what type of exercise you do and how long you do it for. Each time your muscles go through this breaking down and healing process results in greater stamina and strength. But the period of time before recovery is complete can be painful and a disincentive toward more exercise. While all bodies are different and don’t respond to recovery techniques the same way, there are some generally effective things you can do to reduce the discomfort of muscle soreness and potentially speed up the recovery time.

One strategy is what is known as “active recovery”, which basically means performing easy, low impact exercise, or even just normal day to day movement in order to keep the circulation flowing and keep pushing toxins and lactic acid out of your muscles. If you’re experiencing muscle soreness and sit still at your desk, or on the couch, you’ll likely find that the first few steps or movements are the hardest and that it gets easier the more you move. Employing an active recovery strategy means engaging in some sort of movement on a regular basis during your recovery period.

Sports massage takes the principle of removing toxins and nutrient waste that is the basis for active recovery to another level. A massage by someone specially trained for muscle injuries will increase blood flow through your muscles that not only helps push out toxins, but may also help the tissue repair itself a little more quickly. But make sure to drink at least 16 ounces of water after a massage to help your body remove the toxins and nutrient waste that will be produced during the massage. You should notice an improvement in your ability to move comfortably immediately after your massage, although if you are dehydrated the effects will not last as long. For more information on health, nutrition & exercise please visit http://www.weightsmashers.com