3 Simple Ways To Relieve Muscle Soreness
Isn’t it interesting that, as parents, we can go for weeks without working out and yet still be sore? Between playing with and carrying our littles ones and the everyday tasks at home or work, sometimes it’s almost like we’ve gotten a workout without ever touching our workout clothes—and our muscles feel it. Whatever you’re sore from, we have some great ways to relieve muscle soreness to get you back in business.
Ice and Heat
There are several potential causes of soreness, two of the more common being inflammation and muscle knots. If you struggle with inflammation from an injury or a pulled muscle, you can apply ice to the area to briefly reduce blood flow, which will help to reduce inflammation and swelling. The cold will also numb the area, reducing some of the pain you may be feeling.
If your pain is due to muscle tension or knots, applying heat to these areas will help muscles relax and release their tension. There are heating pads available for this purpose; otherwise, you can fill an old sock with rice and heat it in the microwave as a low-cost alternative.
Epsom Salt Baths
In general, taking a warm bath is a great way to relieve muscle soreness. The warmth of the bath helps to reduce tension and relieve muscle and joint stiffness. But the addition of Epsom salts may take your bath to the next level. People have traditionally used Epsom salts as a remedy for a whole host of conditions, from insomnia to psoriasis. However, their most common use is to reduce inflammation, even if the inflammation is the result of a condition like arthritis, lupus, or gout. More research is still necessary to prove this connection, but with over 200 years of tradition backing it up, it’s safe to say that Epsom salt baths can do no harm, even if they do no good.
Getting Rid of Excess Lactic Acid
Lactic acid is a naturally occurring substance in our muscles that can build up when we go through strenuous activity. In the past, many people have blamed this buildup for delayed onset muscle soreness, though nowadays, doctors are starting to move away from that theory. Even so, the methods that you would use to get rid of excess lactic acid in your muscles are beneficial to your muscles and help to relieve and prevent soreness, so the effort is still worth it.
