6 Ways to Take Care of Your Muscles After a Workout
Working out is great for your health, both mentally and physically. But many of us get turned off by the inevitable pain we feel the next day after a heavy workout. So here are six great tips for taking care of your muscles after a workout so you can climb stairs, lift your arms and sit down without wincing!
Table of Contents
Here Are 6 Ways of taking care of your muscles after a workout
Stretch, Stretch, Stretch!
We’re all guilty of skipping our cool down or stretching after our workout, but stretching really is one of the best ways to take care of your muscles after a workout and avoid being sore the next day. So take an extra 5 mins to stretch out after finishing your workout, even if it does eat into your day a little. Your future self will thank you.
K-tapes can be used before and after workouts and can even be combined with stretching exercises. These tapes come in standard sizes suitable for application on various body parts. They effectively reduce pain and assist with muscle soreness. One of the greatest advantages of standard-sized kinesiology tapes is their user-friendly nature. Simply applying the tape to your skin is easy and hassle-free, as it does not cause any discomfort or restrict your movement in any way.
Give Yourself a Massage
Massaging your muscles after a workout helps to get the blood flowing to them and encourages your body to begin muscle repair, which can ease muscle soreness. You can use a number of things to do this, from body oils to a muscle balm, and even a massage gun. Whatever works for you.
Use a Foam Roller
Foam rollers are also a great way to ease muscle soreness, as they’re a self-myofascial release technique. This means they release tension, increase blood flow and reduce inflammation in the body. Foam rollers come in a variety of sizes, colors, and levels of firmness to suit the user. So if you’re a beginner or expert in the world of foam rolling, you’ll be able to find something to meet your needs.
Stay Hydrated
Keeping our bodies hydrated is a key part of staying healthy in general. But drinking a sufficient amount of water is also crucial in helping our muscles recover from our workouts. This is because water flushes out toxins from our bodies and keeps our muscles in good working order. So remember to drink up after a workout, and aim for 2 – 3 liters of water per day.
Have a Hot Bath
Heat is an awesome way to soothe the muscles after a workout and can reduce inflammation and soreness. You can do this by hopping in the bath after you’ve worked out, or if you have access to one, take a dip in a hot tub! The heat will increase blood flow to your muscles, thus aiding them in the recovery process. If you can’t have a bath or access a jacuzzi, then you can also use things like deep heat sprays to target focused areas on the body.
Rest
Lastly is rest. Your body repairs and heals itself when you sleep, so making sure you get your 6 – 8 hours a night is vital if you want to avoid muscle soreness. If you’re someone who works out a lot, you should also consider taking a rest day each week to allow your body to heal and have more active rest. It’ll also help you to see the results of your hard work better too!
