Going to the gym and working your muscles hard in order to impress the ladies and your friends is one of the most burning wishes of many young guys. But after a few hours of working out, you go home, relax while watching your favorite TV show in the evening, get a bite to eat, and go to bed. But as soon as you wake up the next day in the morning, guess what happens? That’s right: your muscles hurt like hell, and the last thing you could possibly want in those moments is another training session at your otherwise beloved gym.
Therefore, how could you possibly avoid that nasty muscle soreness that keeps you from training the way you want? Besides, it can be very frustrating and painful, even though, for some people, it’s a form of pain that they actually like. We have a few tips for you that you should try that could at least reduce the intensity of muscle soreness:
Warm-up and cool-down:
You should always start your workout routines with a proper warm-up, as diving right into those hard exercises could be a bit more than your muscles can handle. By warming up, you will increase the blood flow in your muscles and prepare them for more intense physical activity.
After your workout, a cool-down phase can be beneficial, as it will gradually bring the heart rate down and help prevent stiffness.
Hydration:
It’s important to stay hydrated before, during, as well as after your workout. In other words, feel free to get enough water in your system. Dehydration can contribute to muscle soreness.
Proper nutrition:
Getting proper nutrition is important in life regardless if you want to avoid muscle soreness or not. It’s important regardless of what you do with your body. Therefore, make sure to get enough nutrients in your body, such as the right protein, in order to support muscle recovery.
Gradual progression:
Remember what we said about diving straight into hard physical exercises being a bad idea? Well, it’s important to gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts in order for your muscles to adapt. Be patient with your muscles in the same way you would prefer for your trainer to be patient with you.
Stretching:
Tension gathering in your muscles isn’t exactly a good thing if there’s too much. In other words, incorporating both dynamic stretching before your workout as well as static stretching after your physical exercises will improve flexibility a lot and get you rid of extra muscle tension.
Don’t neglect your sleep:
We get it; you want to be a beast in the gym, just like Arnold Schwarzenegger, but guess what? Not all bodies are built to work like that. It’s crucial to get enough sleep at night to get those muscles repaired and recover overall. Also, don’t forget to allow your muscles enough time to recover between intense workouts.
Active recovery:
You can help with recovery by engaging in low-intensity activities, such as cycling or walking, during your rest days. Blood circulation will be fostered in this way, and the recovery from your intense workouts will be accelerated.
Anti-inflammatory meds:
You can use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, to reduce pain and inflammation. However, you must take them only under the guidance of a healthcare professional and avoid taking them regularly, as side effects might kick in.
You must keep in mind that it’s not always possible to completely avoid muscle soreness after your workouts. However, the strategies mentioned above could at least help reduce the intensity and duration of muscle soreness.
