Boosting Your Recovery After A Big Workout
It’s important to take the time to recover after any workout. If you try to get back into things too quickly or too hard, then you increase your chances of injury significantly. However, you don’t want to be on the sidelines for too long, or you can start to slide back in your progress. So, what can you do to make sure that you recover well, but also quick enough to keep your momentum after a big workout?
Use the right gear
You might be straining your body more than you need to and it might be due to the choice of equipment that you wear when working out. Make sure that any workout gear fits you, allows for a full range of motion, and is breathable so that your body isn’t straining or constricted by it. If you’re running, then the right choice of sports shoes to cushion and support your feet is vital. Otherwise, your ankles and knees might be taking more of the impact than they should, leading to joint pain and swelling that takes time to recover.
Treat your body right after a workout
It is essential that you take the time to look after yourself following a hard workout. This includes cooling down and stretching to make sure that you reduce your risk of muscle injuries. During the recovery process, you can ease pain by using cool treatments such as cold packs or even using a pack of frozen peas, especially for cases of inflammation. Foam rollers such as the Gaiam Restore can also help you work out the tension built up in your muscles so that they don’t remain tense and put pressure on your body when it should be in a state of rest.
Supplement your recovery
It’s essential that you fuel your body for recovery, not just the workout. Indeed, many athletes use protein powders precisely because they help muscles repair all the better. However, it’s not just muscle pain that’s a problem, inflammation is a constant concern as well. Cannabis products are becoming better known as one of the more effective treatments against inflammation and, if legal where you are, you might even be able to grow your own supply with tools like Gavita. Turmeric is also highly recommended as a treatment for any pain you might be feeling post-workout.
Switch it up
You might be able to keep your body active without risking the parts of your body that are aching, even if they haven’t recovered yet. For instance, if you’re experiencing inflammation, then you might instead opt for a low-impact exercise such as swimming to allow your joints to recover. Otherwise, you can simply look to exercises that target different parts of the body.
It’s always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to your recovery. A little muscle soreness might not be a dealbreaker, but if you feel any kind of tightness or joint pain, you should either postpone your next workout or change your plans somewhere.
