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You worked out your legs yesterday or the day before, and have woken up in extreme muscle pain and soreness.
It very well could be DOMS that you’re experiencing – You need DOMS relief.
As long as it’s not paining like the kind you get with torn ligaments or cracked bones, the muscle soreness after a workout is a good thing.
It is a good way to know that you stimulated your muscles to repair themselves to a stronger state than they were prior to training.
Firstly, What is DOMS?
The feeling that you get any time within 12 to 48 hours of a hard workout is something that specialists call DOMS or Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness.
This results from microscopic tears within the tissues of the muscle, which are created as you work out.
The pain response is how your body signals to you that you should rest for a few days because repair work is happening.
Our bodies are smart that way, and they also let us know when we can get back to working out, once the soreness has been alleviated.
DOMS seems to occur as a result of eccentric muscle contractions, instead of concentric contractions.
These are considered to be negative reps. Since it is virtually impossible to have a negative rep without a positive one, you are likely to experience DOMS if you are planning on being active.
DOMS Relief – How Do You Treat Sore Muscles?
There is no tried-and-true treatment method that exists as a treatment for DOMS relief.
However, there are many steps that you can take to minimize the severity:
* Ibuprofen: over-the-counter painkillers that are low dose will help to take the edge off of serious DOMS cases. Ibuprofen is specifically good in this instance.
* Light Massage: When a sore muscle is massaged, it helps to promote blood flow and reduce tightness. In turn, this helps to speed recovery.
* Warm Bath: Warm water also helps to loosen tight muscles, as well as improve circulation.
Having better circulation means that you will have more nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood to aid your muscles in recovery.
* Gentle Stretching: Muscles that are in recovery tighten up usually, which only exacerbates the soreness. Some gentle and slow stretching of the affected area will relieve some of the tight feelings and provide DOMS relief.
* Hot/Cold Treatment: Place an ice pack on it for 15 minutes, then follow with a heat pack for 15, and switch back to the ice again.
Studies show that alternating heat and cold is greatly effective when it comes to muscle recuperation and circulation.
DOMS Relief: The Limp
A bit of soreness does not tend to interfere with your daily activities.
However, you might find yourself limping around at some point, without the ability to function properly.
Of course, this can be uncomfortable. During these periods, you may want to know how to manage your pain in the best way possible to get back into action sooner.
In Summary
It is not possible for you to completely beat DOMS. Maybe it is a good thing that no one has been able to figure out how to circumvent it.
The body uses DOMS to signal that you need a rest.
You have to admit that it is satisfying to have that achy, sore feeling after a great workout.
