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Feb 4

Three Ways an Athlete Can Treat Exercise Soreness

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An athlete might notice that his or her muscles or joints are sore after exercising, which can cause a lot of pain, and hinder his or her athletic ability. Soreness after working out or playing sports is fairly common, and can happen to an athlete regardless of age or athletic ability. In order for an athlete to continue participating in sports or exercise programs, he or she must treat the muscle soreness immediately once it develops.

Here are three ways that an athlete can treat exercise soreness, which can help him or her resume normal activities within days.

Keep Moving

An athlete that is experiencing soreness after exercise should keep moving, which is one of the best treatment options available. If an athlete notices that his or her muscles are sore after exercise, he or she should not just go in and sit on the couch for the next few days, since this can cause the muscles to stiffen up. If an athlete keeps moving, he or she is more likely to notice a decrease in the discomfort, because moving can actually decrease the joint inflammation. An athlete should not be going out and participating in intense sports, but he or she should make an effort to take a 10 minute walk at least twice a day, which can keep the muscles flexible during the soreness.

Apply Heat and Ice at Regular Intervals

An athlete should also make sure to apply heat and ice to the area of the body where the soreness is occurring, and this should be done at least three times each day. In the first few days after the soreness has started, an athlete should be using a cold ice compress on the affected area, but he or she should only keep the ice on for 20 minutes at a time. Once the first few days of soreness have passed, an athlete should begin using heat compresses around the sore areas, which can help increase blood circulation, and decrease the discomfort or pain. Applying heat and ice to the sore areas can help treat the muscles or joints where the pain is coming from, and can also help alleviate inflammation or swelling around the area. It might also feel good for an athlete to take a hot bath after the first few days of soreness, which can provide relief to the entire body.

Get a Sports Massage

An athlete can also get a sports massage, which can help alleviate soreness after exercising, and can help him or her feel refreshed. Sports massages are great because the professional can target specific areas on the body, and also provide a more general massage to soothe muscles. If an athlete notices that the soreness is in the back, then he or she should focus the sports massage on this specific area. Sports massages can relieve tension, decrease pain and inflammation, and can also prevent spasms from occurring. An athlete should get a sports massage within the first couple of days after noticing the soreness, and should continue to get the massages weekly, in order to prevent further soreness down the road. If an athlete decides to get a sports massage, he or she can expect to have increased flexibility, and he or she will be more relaxed overall.

Jeanne Rose worked as a dietary clerk for three years in a hospital, went to vocational school for Allied Health, and obtained certification in nurse assisting.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

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Three Ways an Athlete Can Treat Exercise Soreness

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