Unfolding the Mystery of Post-Workout Muscle Soreness
One common experience that often follows a rigorous workout is muscle soreness. The dull aching and discomfort that you feel 24 to 72 hours after exercising aren’t just irritating; they are signs that your muscles have been stretched, micro-damaged or put under higher demands than usual. This discomfort is known as Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS).
If you engage in physical activities that your body isn’t used to or do the same repetitive motions regularly, you are more likely to experience DOMS. Common symptoms include muscles that feel tender to touch, short-term loss of muscle strength, joint stiffness, and swelling.
What Causes Post-Workout Muscle Soreness?
Post-workout muscle soreness is your body’s natural response to the inflammation caused by minute damage to your muscle fibers during exercise. When you engage in a rigorous workout or a new type of physical activity, your muscles work harder and tiny microscopic tears occur in the muscle fibers. It’s these micro-tears, followed by the inflammation that causes muscle soreness and stiffness.
How to Manage Post-Workout Muscle Soreness?
Knowing how to manage muscle soreness can help you continue your workout routine and minimize discomfort. Rest and recovery are the key elements, but there are also other methods like using cold packs, compression, and therapeutic massage that can alleviate the discomfort.
Light stretching and mild physical activity can also help by promoting blood circulation and accelerating the recovery process. Supplementing your diet with protein can provide the necessary nutrients for muscle repair. Hydration before, after, and during workout sessions also plays a key role in reducing DOMS.
Role of Pain Relief Creams in Managing DOMS
Topical analgesics or pain relief creams/gels have been demonstrated to be effective in managing muscle soreness. They work by relieving pain and reducing inflammation locally, without systemic side-effects.
One such product is Fisiocrem. A natural solution for muscle and joint pain, Fisiocrem contains active plant-derived ingredients known for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It penetrates deep into the skin to offer temporary relief from muscular aches and pains. Well suited to those with an active lifestyle, it can be applied before or after physical activity.
Preventing Post-Workout Muscle Soreness
Preventing DOMS isn’t always possible, especially if you’re playing a sport or learning a new activity. However, improving your overall fitness, performing warm-up exercises before getting into intense workout and progressing gradually can reduce the likelihood of experiencing DOMS.
You should always give your body time to adapt to new exercises and gradually increase the intensity. Include a variety of workouts to prevent overusing a particular muscle group, and also ensure to get enough sleep as it plays a part in muscle recovery.
In conclusion, post-workout muscle soreness is a natural process that signifies the adaptation of your body to a new exercise routine. While unpleasant, it is typically a clear sign that you’re getting stronger. Careful management of post-workout muscle soreness can help you recover faster and get back to your workout routines, while products like Fisiocrem offer handy help.