Mobility comes with a price. An active lifestyle can keep your physical and mental well-being at its best. But movements can falter over time, leaving us to deal with the aftereffects. After all, the entire philosophy of exercise revolves around pushing the body and putting stress on it in the hopes that it exacts change. However, as much as exercise can help prevent chronic conditions and help maintain strong muscles and bones, it is often accompanied by discomfort. For example, sore abs and glutes are common side effects of doing crunches and squats and a clear indication that you’ve done something to improve your health and strength. But when does this muscle fatigue become a red flag of an injury? Read on to learn the differences between post-activity muscle pain and soreness, and ways to relieve these aches and pains.

POST-ACTIVITY PAIN VS. SORENESS

Muscle soreness after an intense workout session is normal and is not a cause for concern. Muscle pain, on the other hand, does not resolve after a few days and will bring forth symptoms like sharp, achy, and tingling sensations in the muscles or joints. As such, knowing the difference between soreness and pain will allow you to evaluate your threshold and prevent the same issues from rising again.

TYPE OF DISCOMFORT 

Suppose your muscles feel tender upon touch, and you feel tired or are experiencing a burning feeling while exercising. In that case, you’re most likely dealing with a sore muscle. This type of soreness is known as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and is caused by unharmful micro-tears on the muscles. When resting, there should only be a minimal dull, tight, and achy feeling.

Pain, on the other hand, results in sharp twinges when exercising and even when resting. Muscle pain can also keep you awake at night, and joints and muscles around the area can become stiff. Limping or movement changes are some other signs that indicate the pain is caused by an injury.

ONSET AND DURATION OF DISCOMFORT

Muscle soreness is usually experienced during your workout session or one to three days after the strenuous activity. Similarly, muscle pain can occur during exercise or within 24 hours of activity. However, the difference lies in how long the discomfort lasts. Muscle soreness will go away on its own after two to three days, but muscle pain can linger for a long time if the proper muscle pain treatment is not provided.

CAUSES OF SORE MUSCLES AND MUSCLE PAIN

Sore muscles often result from using your muscles for something that you’ve not done for a long time. This can include anything from working out and playing sports to doing housework or increasing the intensity or length of your workout routine. Basically, any changes that your muscles are not accustomed to will lead to tiny injuries in the muscle fibres and connective tissue. This, however, strengthens the muscles and connective tissues over time, building more resilience.

Muscle pain is indicative of an injury. Be it pulled muscles or damage to the ligament or meniscus, there will be swelling and bruising in addition to limitations in movement. Some causes of muscle pain include inadequate stretching, overuse, or improper workout techniques.

WAYS TO STAY AHEAD OF SORENESS AND RELIEVE MUSCLE PAIN

One of the best ways to manage your muscle soreness and pain is to know your body’s limits and take all the steps necessary before and after a workout.

MUSCLE SORENESS

When it comes to sore muscles, there is some truth in the saying, “no pain, no gain.” But if the soreness is bringing you down, consider these sore muscle pain relief tips:

• Take time to recover: Allow yourself a day or two of rest so your body can stay ahead of the soreness, and risks of pain and injury will be mitigated.
• Vary your activities: Performing alternate exercises will allow your sore muscles to recover. Doing so will also ensure that the muscles do not get injured due to overexertion.
• Stay active: As contradictory as it may seem, DOMS does indeed improve with continuous activity. So instead of resting completely, consider stretching and doing some light movement.

Over-the-counter remedies: Simple remedies like sore muscle creams and muscle rubs can help subside the achy feeling almost instantly. Muscle rubs like Tiger Balm ointments are some of the best pain relievers for sore muscles after a workout. They will get you back on track to achieve your fitness goals and elevate your fitness regimes.

MUSCLE PAIN

Since the side effects of muscle pain can be more intense and debilitating, the best muscle pain relief options vary from sore muscle remedies.

• Stop activities that trigger the pain: Since it can be difficult to determine the exact cause of the pain and the degree of the injury is not clearly reflected by the amount of pain you feel, it is best to stop all strenuous activities and seek the necessary help.
• Don’t push through the pain: Unlike sore muscles, whereby you can do light activities to ease the soreness, it is best to avoid pushing through muscle pain. Doing so can intensify the pain or even cause further injury.

Seek medical help: If your muscle pain does not dissipate after a week, visit a doctor or medical professional for a thorough evaluation and proper treatment.

ELEVATE YOUR FITNESS REGIME WITH TIGER BALM MUSCLE PAIN RELIEF SOLUTIONS

Experiencing sore muscles and pain after an intense workout session is common. But when the discomfort and pain persist, leveraging quick fixes that relieve muscle soreness and boost muscle and tissue recovery is the best way forward. And that is precisely what Tiger Balm aims to do.Elevate your fitness regime with muscle pain relief solutions from Tiger Balm and enjoy effective, strong, and convenient pain relief for hours. Muscle creams and pain relief balms like Tiger Balm Ultra Strength Ointment, which contains our strongest blend of herbal ingredients, can help you stay on top of your fitness routine.

JANUARY 09, 2023 BY FIRSTPAGE