An Athletes Guide to Reducing Muscle Soreness
An Athletes Guide to Reducing Muscle Soreness
The most important tip in an athlete’s guide to reducing muscle soreness after a workout is that ice is not effective at all for muscle repair. The concept of icing may seem plausible, since ice slows the rate of injury. However, the tissues in the body are actually damaged during strenuous activity. There simply is no way to slow down the damage to these damaged tissues by applying ice. Ice can actually make the situation worse.
A muscle is any part of a body system that produces energy. Muscles provide the power needed to perform normal daily functions. Any type of muscular damage causes a reduction in the amount of energy that is produced by the body. This reduced supply of energy results in reduced performance and can even lead to a temporary loss of consciousness. Sore muscles will actually be more painful than they would have been if the exercise had not caused the soreness in the first place.
It is extremely dangerous to attempt to repair a muscle with ice. The tissues surrounding the injured muscle are not capable of receiving the broken-down form of glucose introduced to them through the ice. These damaged tissues will actually begin to bruise further, causing even more pain. The ice will do absolutely nothing for these muscles.
The best way to treat muscle soreness following a workout is to make sure that your muscles have been completely rested. When the body has had time to recover from a rigorous activity, it is less likely to become injured again. Resting the body is also the best way of making sure that sore muscles heal properly.
Many athletes mistakenly believe that icing a muscle will help to speed up the healing process. This can be extremely dangerous for several reasons. First, muscle soreness is not something that will just “go away”. The damage to the tissue that has occurred will continue to be repaired every time an athlete undertakes strenuous activity. If an athlete is not careful, then their muscle soreness could end up being far more serious than it initially was.
In order to reduce swelling, a professional should apply a cool ice pack to the affected area. The ice should be held at a firm, yet malleable temperature. The ice should be applied to the area at least for twenty minutes. After the ice has been applied, the athlete should wrap the area in a clean cloth. This is done so that any excess moisture will be eliminated and that the ice can better penetrate the skin in order to provide relief to the affected area.
When an athlete breaks an ice pack off of the ice pack, he should take a minute to dry off his body. Then he can apply another ice pack, using the same technique. Repeat this process as often as necessary until the pain has decreased. Athletes should never sit or lie down while they are injured. Sitting or lying down will increase the possibility of tearing the injured area. If an athlete is going to be sitting for long periods of time, then they may want to invest in a cushion or pillow to sit on.
An athlete’s guide to reducing muscle soreness can greatly simplify a complex issue. When an athlete knows how to properly rest then they can ensure that their body will always be functioning at its best. A proper recovery strategy should always be taken into account. If an athlete wants to be as healthy as possible, then they should follow the advice of an athlete’s guide to reducing muscle soreness.
