None of us are immune to muscle aches and pains. Even those of us with the healthiest lifestyle will feel an ache or two after a particularly vigorous workout or a day of strenuous activity. Luckily, there are plenty of options to help soothe muscle aches and pains and we’re going to be looking at a list of them today!
Some of these suggestions are pretty quick and easy and will offer quick relief or at least more preventative care of muscles which have worked hard. Other suggestions will get deeper into the muscles and offer more long-term relief. Whichever you choose, you’re bound to get some great relief from muscle aches from the following:
Stretch it out
Stretching is SO important and you should absolutely be stretching before and after exercise. Before I go for a run, I like to walk for a while first to get my muscles warmed up. I also practice a lot of Yoga which helps to keep my muscles in better shape and stretched throughout the week.
Hot water bottle
I love hot water bottles, I literally don’t know what I’d do without one! I get cold pretty easily so I’m often taking a hot water bottle to bed with me but using them for muscle pain is another great option. I get a lot of lower back pain and having a hot water bottle pressed against my sore lower back is heaven.
CBD muscle balm
There are plenty of topical treatments available to help relieve muscle pain and strain but it can definitely be difficult to find one that works with the biology of the skin and interacts with it in a way to give the best benefit to muscle pain. This is where the Wintergreen CBD muscle balm comes in.
There’s a high concentration of cannabinoid receptors in the skin, and when CBD is applied topically, it activates the endocannabinoid system through those receptors. CBD binds to the cannabinoid receptors in your epidermal and dermal skin, a process that results in alleviation of pain and inflammation.
The active ingredients that are in our wintergreen sports balm improve circulation, boost energy, reduce scarring, and facilitate the removal of lactic acid accumulated in the muscles after strenuous activity.
I was sent two jars of the balm to try and I have been using it weekly when I’m getting sore muscles from exercise. I’ve actually recently started running and I’ll be honest, I’m not that good at it. I find it really difficult on my muscles and I typically always finish a run with sore and aching muscles – particularly the day after!
This could be a case of not running properly (which it likely is) but obviously running is a high impact activity that will, inevitably, put strain on your muscles. So after my runs is the most prominent time that I’ve been using this balm, particularly on the back of my calves and hamstrings.
I really like this balm as it’s a quick and easy fix for aching muscles when you need it. It’s great to have a massage to help ease muscle pain but – unless you’re painfully rich – that’s not something you will have access to any time you need it and often have to book in advance.
But the balm is a quick and effective way to get that relief from muscle aches and pains, in my case, from exercise. Here are some more great facts about the balm:
The methyl salicylate in Wintergreen oil gives it its anti-inflammatory properties and provides topical pain-relief for aching muscle and joints. It is antibacterial and aids in alleviating colds, headaches, sore throats, skin conditions and tooth decay.
The natural oils that are in our wintergreen balm are anti-inflammatory and stimulates blood supply to the muscles, helping to relieve pain and stiffness, heal micro-fibre tears, and reduce bruising and swelling. It also relieves itching and swelling of insect bites and has antibacterial properties.
Due to its ability to counter inflammation, winter green oil is used for several health problems like respiratory issues such as asthma, colds and flu, kidney problems, and even heart disease.
As you can see, this balm does much more than just soothe aching muscles after exercise and can be used after any strenuous activity such as building or gardening but also incorporated into treatment and relief from various different chronic or temporary ailments such as asthma or the common cold.
A warm bath
I love this option because it allows you to kill two birds with one stone. You can switch off and relax, whilst also resting and soothing your aching muscles in the hot water. Light some candles,grab a great book and make an evening of it!
Have a massage
I love going for massages and they really help my aching muscles as well as helping me relax for half an hour. Obviously a massage isn’t an instant option for everyone and you might need to book your massages in advance. You might want to get one booked in for after you’re due to have a long day that might cause muscle ache.
Have a rest
And finally, just rest. It can be easy to just want to keep at it, especially if you’re in the midst of a new and exciting workout routine. But that isn’t going to benefit your body at all – you NEED to rest it. If you do want to do some movement, then gentle yoga or a slow walk are the best options. But don’t push it.