How to Recover After Skiing the Slopes
After spending the day on the slopes, it’s not uncommon for skiers to experience muscle pain, soreness, or stiffness. No matter whether you’re a beginner or expert, you’re working your entire body and may find yourself working muscles you didn’t even realize you had.
Don’t let the first day back on the slopes slow you down. We’re looking at how to recover after skiing to get you back on your feet and ready for day two!
Ski Recovery Tips to Get Back on the Slopes
Skiing works your muscles and joints in ways that not many other activities do. Since most of us only ski a few times each year, it’s a workout that your body may not be fully prepared for, no matter your fitness level. That means you might be feeling soreness or muscle strain for days afterward unless you follow steps for how to recover after skiing. Taking the time and actions for effective recovery after skiing can also help prevent common winter sports injuries, especially if you’re hitting the slopes multiple days in a row.
A few tips for how to recover after skiing that you should try include:
- Take an Epsom salt bath
- Use a foam roller or stretch
- Apply heat and cold therapy
- Relax in a zero gravity chair for faster recovery
- Eat a healthy meal
Take an Epsom Salt Bath
Starting off our list of how to recover after skiing the slopes is to take an Epsom salt bath. Available in most grocery stores or pharmacies, Epsom salt is a popular additive to a warm bath to help soothe aching muscles. The potential benefits of an Epsom salt bath go further, however, and may help with inflammation, migraines, and stress relief.
Dissolving Epsom salt releases magnesium and sulfate ions that are meant to help rid your body of toxins. Keep in mind that Epsom salt baths are not recommended if you have a skin infection or open wounds. Additionally, you’ll want to avoid using Epsom salt in a tub with jets, a hot tub or a whirlpool bath unless the manufacturer says it’s okay.
Use a Foam Roller or Stretch
Foam rollers and other soft tissue massage tools provide an easy way to relieve tension in overworked muscles and help with how to recover after skiing. They can increase circulation in sore areas and improve muscle mobility to get you back in action for another day of fun!
In addition to ski recovery tips for foam rollers or portable massage guns, you should stretch properly before and after skiing to prevent muscle soreness, stiffness, or injury. The repetitive motions of skiing work our leg muscles and keep our core engaged, which puts a lot of strain on the body. Be sure to stretch your legs and upper body before and after skiing for optimal recovery.
Apply Heat and Cold Therapy
As with other winter sports, many skiers find that an effective way to initiate recovery after skiing is with heat and cold therapy applications. Start out with cold therapy, applying ice packs to any sore muscles to reduce inflammation and numb the area. You can apply an ice pack for up to 20 minutes at a time, but be sure to wrap it in a thin towel first. Never apply an ice pack directly to your skin or it could damage the tissue and do more harm than good.
Once you’ve finished with any cold therapy applications, it’s time for heat therapy to shine. Not only do heat therapy tools (like warm towels/pads or a heated zero gravity chair) provide a soothing feeling to sore muscles to help with recovery after skiing, but they also deepen your relaxation for plenty of rest to get you ready for the next day. Heat therapy increases circulation in the applied areas, which may help enhance bodily healing and facilitate faster muscle recovery.
Relax in a Zero Gravity Chair for Recovery After Skiing
After a long day skiing, there’s nothing like kicking back and relaxing to help your body start to recover. Instead of a traditional recliner or simple couch, choose a zero gravity chair for how to recover after skiing the slopes, instead! Zero gravity chairs elevate your sitting experience, providing comfort alongside a variety of potential health benefits including back pain relief, alleviating muscle strain, faster bodily healing, and more.
In the zero gravity position, your legs are elevated above your heart level and weight is distributed evenly along the body. This reduces pressure on the lower back and pelvic areas, both of which get a major workout from a day on the slopes. This position increases blood flow throughout the body, reducing inflammation, rehydrating spinal discs, and healing tissue more quickly. It’s perfect for how to recover after skiing and will have you ready for another day on the hill!
The best zero gravity chairs will also have bonus features like massage and heat therapy you can add to your routine for recovery after skiing. Combining the benefits of the zero gravity chairs with heat therapy and massage features puts your skiing recovery into high gear. What could be better than pairing multiple ski recovery tips into one incredible experience?
Eat a Healthy Meal
While it may surprise you, part of learning how to recover after skiing includes eating a healthy meal. It may be tempting to dive into comfort food after a cold day on the slopes, but choosing anti-inflammatory foods is better to fight against fatigue and reduce muscle and joint pain. Foods like green leafy vegetables, fatty fish like salmon, nuts, olive oil, and berries are all excellent choices that can make for a delicious meal that helps your body with recovery after skiing at the same time.
There are plenty of ski recovery tips to help your body heal up and be ready for another day on the slopes. Learning how to recover after skiing is crucial to keep you on your feet, prevent potential injuries, and let you participate in all the fun. Don’t let your ski day take you down and out. Follow these tips and get ready for your next ski day!
Wondering which zero gravity chair is best for recovery after skiing? Check out the Svago Newton Zero Gravity Recliner, the most effective, feature-packed, sophisticated zero gravity recliner in the world!
