How to Relax Sore Muscles for Recovery, Relief, and Repair
Sore muscles can happen to people of any age and lifestyle. Whether you’ve overdone it while exercising, have a physically-intense job, or have even been experiencing lots of stress, the potential catalysts for sore muscles are numerous. Finding ways to relax sore muscles is crucial to providing pain relief and avoiding prolonged discomfort. While most sore muscles will repair themselves on their own, finding ways to speed up sore muscles recovery may also help prevent symptoms from getting worse by compounding over time.
To help you get back to feeling your best as quickly as possible, we’re looking at how to relax sore muscles for recovery, relief, and repair.
Note: While most sore muscles are harmless in the long run, it’s important to consult your doctor if symptoms continue, as it may be signs of other conditions. Monitor your recovery and seek professional medical advice when needed.
How to Relax Sore Muscles
Oftentimes sore muscles are the result of overexertion. When we push ourselves beyond our limits, our muscles develop tears that need to be repaired. Other times, however, different underlying reasons may be the catalyst for feeling stiff and sore. Identifying the source and learning ways to relax sore muscles can help enhance how the body heals itself and get you back to feeling great as fast as possible.
To help you along the way, we’ve compiled some of our favorite methods for how to speed up sore muscle recovery including:
- Drink more water
- Stay active
- Get a massage
- Relax in a zero gravity chair
- Try soaking in a warm bath
- Eat more protein
Drinking Water for Muscle Recovery
First up on our list of methods for how to relax sore muscles is to drink lots of water. It’s as simple as that! When it comes to ways to speed up sore muscle recovery, dehydration is your biggest enemy. Drinking plenty of water helps rehydrate your body, flush your muscles, and help heal more quickly.
A good rule of thumb is to make sure you’re drinking at least 8 ounces of water for every 15 to 30 minutes of exercise. Staying hydrated before, during, and after physical activity may help prevent Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) or help with how to relax muscles and provide pain relief faster.
Stay Active to Speed Up Sore Muscle Recovery
While it might sound like the opposite of what you should do for how to relax sore muscles, studies have shown the benefits of staying active as one of the best ways to relax sore muscles. Engaging in light activity helps alleviate muscle tension and keep the body loose. It also helps flush toxins from the body and helps it heal more quickly.
Staying active can be an all-inclusive, effective method for how to relax sore muscles for recovery, relief, and repair! Not only can it help once soreness sets in, but stretching before and after physical activity could help muscles recover in a way that reduces or prevents muscle soreness altogether. This is why athletes know the benefits of a post workout recovery routine and the risk factors for neglecting one.
Massaging Sore Muscles for Recovery, Relief, and Repair
If you’ve ever experienced a massage then you know they can be effective methods for how to relax sore muscles. Getting a massage works your muscles and helps them stay loose, circulate blood for faster healing and recovery, plus deepens your overall relaxation. Getting a regular massage can be expensive and tough to fit into a busy schedule, though.
If you’re struggling to keep regular massage appointments to help speed up sore muscle recovery or want to experience massage on your terms right when you need it, there are other methods that have become popular. Portable massage guns can be effective for use on the go. For a deeper relaxation at home, however, many athletes and active individuals have sought out zero gravity chairs with massage features. Zero gravity chair massage features may include vibration massage or air pressure massage (also called air cell massage) depending on the model you choose. Some of the benefits of vibration massage and air pressure massage include:
- Improving blood circulation
- Increase flexibility and mobility
- Helping the body heal faster
- Reduce stress and anxiety
Using a Zero Gravity Chair for Sore Muscle Relief
Beyond massage features, luxury zero gravity chairs may provide a plethora of other ways to relax sore muscles that help you recover more quickly. Their design, based on observations of the neutral body position of astronauts in space, takes the modern recliner to the next level. Where a traditional recliner may actually contribute to lower back pain and sciatica problems by concentrating pressure on the pelvic region, zero gravity chairs have the exact opposite effect.
In the zero gravity position, the legs are elevated above the heart level and weight is distributed evenly along the body. The effects of this design allow for better blood circulation throughout the body which may speed up sore muscle recovery and get you back to feeling your best in no time.
In addition to the benefits of better blood flow for how to relax sore muscles, sitting in a zero gravity chair may help improve your overall physical and mental health. Bonus features of zero gravity luxury recliners like heat therapy and massage functions work together to deepen your relaxation. The added effect of lowering stress levels while you enjoy your zero gravity chair can help unclench muscles and add to your recovery.
Taking a Hot Bath for Sore Muscles
Where a zero gravity chair with heat therapy offers one method for how to relax sore muscles with heat, taking a hot bath for sore muscles is another. There’s nothing like a hot bath to relax the muscles and the mind. Combining zero gravity chair heat therapy features followed by a hot soak could make the ultimate relaxing night time routine to speed up sore muscle recovery.
Tip: Don’t forget to add Epsom salt to your bath to make the most of their potential benefits, as well!
Protein Helps Sore Muscles
Next up on our list of ways to relax sore muscles is to eat more protein! Your body needs protein to repair muscles, carbohydrates to fuel that next workout, and healthy fats to keep your joints properly lubricated. Part of learning how to relax sore muscles is making sure you’re eating properly before and after physical activity to maximize your protection and recovery. Natural sources of protein like fish, lean meats, poultry, quinoa, and nuts are ideal to maintain a healthy diet while getting enough protein to help speed up sore muscle recovery.
We hope this guide for how to relax sore muscles for recovery, relief, and repair has highlighted the importance of having a routine in place. Muscle soreness can hinder your performance and keep you from doing what you love. Left unchecked, it could even lead to larger injuries. From eating right and stretching to choosing a zero gravity chair as part of your daily routine, learning how to relax sore muscles can be achieved with a few simple lifestyle changes.
As always, consult your doctor if you’re experiencing muscle pain to make sure it’s not indicative of more serious health concerns. Once you’ve been given the go ahead, see which of these methods works best for you and get back to being pain free!
Want to learn more about the potential health benefits of zero gravity chairs and how they fit any lifestyle? Check out these resources:
