Muscle pain is usually a sign that something’s a bit amiss. It’s a natural result of a good workout, but it can be an unintended result of poor posture or an injury. It’s essential to understand the source of your muscle pain and whether or not there’s anything you should be concerned about. Learning from the experience can help you prevent future muscle pain or heal underlying injuries that contribute to your discomfort.
Once you understand the source, it’s time to treat the symptoms. These are the best practices for relieving muscle pain.
What Causes Muscle Pain?
Muscle pain can be caused by a variety of things. Identifying the cause of your muscle pain is one of the most important parts of relieving that pain. Sustainable relief from muscle pain may require meaningful lifestyle changes and a commitment to new habits.
Some muscle pain is acute and will resolve with time, while others are chronic and may persist long after the catalyst event that caused the pain.
Intense Exercise
Muscle pain is common after a hard workout. If it’s mild and manageable, it usually doesn’t cause concern. Resting and following proper post-workout care techniques and nutritional guidance will temporarily resolve the muscle pain over the course of a few days. It shouldn’t persist for longer than a week.
Overuse Injuries
People who work on their feet may develop muscle pain as a result of standing all day. Factory workers, landscapers, and people who regularly lift boxes as a part of their jobs can experience overuse injuries related to repetitive motion.
Playing tennis, practicing martial arts, gardening, or even baking can lead to overuse injuries if you take part in your hobby for extended periods of time and frequently engage in activities like leaning over, striking, or even kneading dough.
Poor Posture or Sleeping Position
You’re either lying, sitting, or standing. Those are the three core positions the human body will spend most of its day in. You must be utilizing proper posture in every position. You need to keep your spine aligned to prevent muscle and joint strain. Some people find that posture support garments help.
Getting a comfortable and supportive desk chair and a suitable mattress will also help to prevent muscle pain related to poor posture.
Underlying Health Conditions
Underlying health conditions and nutrient deficiencies can contribute to muscular discomfort. If you can’t easily identify the source of your pain and changing your posture or bed isn’t helping, an underlying health condition may negatively impact the way you feel.
Check in With Your Doctor About Muscle Pain
If the cause of your muscle pain isn’t inherently obvious, like the result of straining over a desk for a long workweek or training for a marathon, you should see a doctor. Certain infections can cause muscle pain.
Muscle aches can also occur as a symptom of neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis. See your doctor if your muscle pain is unexplained, intense, recurrent, and doesn’t reduce or resolve within a few days.
How Can I Help Prevent Muscle Pain?
Most of the time, muscle pain can be prevented by listening closely to your body. If you’re slumped over, falling asleep in awkward positions, or straining your neck and shoulders to see your computer screen, you’ll realize you aren’t comfortable.
After a few minutes, the effects of maintaining an awkward position contrary to your natural body mechanics will become apparent.
Take care in selecting a sleeping position. Place a pillow between your knees if you’re a side sleeper, under your hips if you’re a stomach sleeper, and under your knees, if you’re a back sleeper. This will help to keep your muscles and bones aligned while you sleep.
Lifting your computer up to eye level and keeping your keyboard closer to the edge of your desk can help to deter you from using poor posture when working or studying. A desk chair with lumbar support will remind you to sit properly.
If you get muscle pain after a workout, remember to alternate muscle groups. Each muscle group should get about two days of rest before you return to it.
How Do You Relieve Muscle Pain?
There are several things you can do to relieve muscle pain at home. In most cases, using several methods in conjunction will produce the highest level of relief. Treat the situation holistically.
Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen (brand name Advil) and acetaminophen (brand name Tylenol) can be used to relieve widespread muscle pain for a short period of time.
It’s important to note that your use of these products should only be temporary. It isn’t safe to rely on these pain relievers for long-term use.
Acetaminophen can become toxic to the liver, and ibuprofen can damage the lining of the stomach. It’s crucial to use these medications sparingly to avoid the consequences that come with frequent use.
Nutrition and Proper Hydration
If your muscles are injured, your body needs to work to repair them. Equipping your body with the things it needs to facilitate that process will help it along. Your body needs water and balanced nutrition to function optimally. Make sure you’re replenishing your body with hydration and electrolytes. Prioritize high protein meals to provide your body with the building blocks it needs to restore the health of your muscles.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is a valuable option for people with recurring muscle pain. Sports massage is a valuable tool for people who live highly athletic lifestyles. Biweekly or monthly massage can help to keep frequently strained muscles in a better state of overall health.
You don’t necessarily need to book an appointment with a massage therapist. If the area is small and the discomfort is minor, you can massage it yourself at home. Your doctor may be able to advise you of gentle and easy self-massage techniques.
Muscle Pain Relief Cream
Muscle pain relief cream works to ease the sensation of the pain from the surface of the skin. Ingredients like menthol, arnica, capsicum, lidocaine and trolamine salicylate work differently to obscure or reduce the pain signals your body sends to your brain, replacing them with a different sensation or working to numb them.
Hempvana Is Here To Ease Your Achy Muscles
Hempvana Maximum Strength Pain Relief Cream works to temporarily relieve muscle pain from the outside-in. This cream is formulated with trolamine salicylate, which is in the aspirin family of medicines. When applied to the skin, it can help ease muscle aches associated with redness and swelling or strains.
Massage a dab of cream into your achy muscles to promote absorption and provide additional relief. The active ingredients will begin to work within minutes, providing you with the temporary relief you need to get some much-needed rest.