Relieving Muscle Soreness Post Gym

You know that feeling when you wake up the day after a fantastic workout, and every part of your body feels like it weighs a million kilos? Yeah, we’ve all been there!

Experiencing muscle pain after working out is widespread, regardless of whether you're a beginner or a seasoned athlete. If you level up your exercise regimen or start from scratch, you will likely feel some soreness or pain. But worry not! It is entirely normal.

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) is the pain you experience in your body, typically 1-2 days after working out. It is different from the acute pain you experience during the workout, which is caused by the accumulation of metabolites in the body. DOMS occurs because your body's muscle fibres develop microscopic tears when you perform high-intensity exercises. This results in inflammation leading to DOMS. While it might sound intimidating, there is no need to fret!

What does DOMS feel like?

You must have noticed that every time you start a new exercise, your muscles feel sore within 24-48 hours. The soreness peaks on the second or third day after you've worked out and eventually starts improving. DOMS generally includes muscle soreness and inflammation, restricted range of motion, fatigue, and temporary loss of muscle strength as the most typical signs.

What can you do to feel better?

When experiencing DOMS, you may be inclined to stop all activities until you recover. But don’t fall into that trap! Incorporating gentle movement throughout the day, like a light walk or simple yoga stretches, can ease stiffness and help relieve muscle soreness. Here are some other remedies that can help you relieve sore muscles.

Consume anti-inflammatory foods - Research suggests consuming anti-inflammatory foods like watermelon, pineapple, and cherry juice can help relieve muscle soreness.

Take antioxidant supplements – Fish oil and curcumin have anti-inflammatory properties and have been shown to minimize DOMS.

Try heat therapy – Enjoy a warm bath or place damp towels dipped in warm water on the muscle immediately after your workout! 

Use cold therapy – Apply an ice pack or cold compress wherever you need to relieve muscle pain. If you want to give your tired muscles some extra love, you can try our Mighty Mint Pain Relief Spray for post workout recovery.

Soak in an Epsom salt bath – Add some Epsom salt to your hot bath and enjoy a relaxing time while it works magic to relieve muscle pain and inflammation. You can also try our Epsom Energy Body Wash, specially formulated for workout recovery, which provides an easier alternate to Epsom soak.

Get a massage or self-massage – Best taken 48 hours after a workout to ease the discomfort!

Wear a compression garment - A compression garment keeps your muscles in place, increases blood flow to the area, and avoids unnecessary muscle movement, speeding up the recovery process.

In conclusion

Use the above remedies to lessen your muscle pain after a workout. You can also use topical analgesics or Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain and discomfort. But remember: DOMS is a normal part of working out! Don't give up your exercise routine, as the discomfort eventually reduces. 

But if it still bothers you after seven days, don't hesitate to visit your doctor to rule out the possibility of an injury. Otherwise, keep pushing yourself!