Do you ever experience muscle soreness after a long workout? This can be a sign that you are challenging your body and growing stronger. Symptoms of post-workout soreness are usually related to the activity, intensity, and duration of your workout. When you strain muscles, the fibers break down and produce lactic acid as a byproduct.
The lactic acid makes your muscles feel sore, but it is also what causes that great burn you feel after working out. The pain is caused by the buildup of lactic acid in the muscle tissues.
As time goes by, your body will grow accustomed to whatever type of exercise you do. In order to continue seeing results, you need to keep challenging yourself with new moves and different intensities. If you are experiencing discomfort post-workout or simply want to relieve some aches and pains, here’s how rubbing sore muscles can help heal your body:
Why Do Our Muscles Become Sore?
When you engage in rigorous physical activity, your muscles can become fatigued and experience microscopic tearing. This is known as the lactic acid buildup. Lactic acid is the byproduct of the breakdown of glucose (an important source of energy), and it is what causes your muscles to feel sore after a workout.
When you push your muscles to the limit during exercise, your heart pumps more blood and delivers more oxygen to your muscles. In order to make the most of this extra oxygen, your body converts it into lactic acid. This happens naturally when you are exercising: your muscles break down glucose and turn it into ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is then broken down into lactic acid and carbon dioxide.
What Causes Muscle Soreness?
Sore muscles are a natural consequence of the breakdown of glucose to produce ATP for energy and the buildup of lactic acid during exercise. The buildup of lactic acid causes the pain and discomfort of sore muscles.
As you exercise, you increase the amount of blood flow to your muscles, which results in a buildup of lactic acid. If your muscles become fatigued before you can break down the lactic acid and flush it from your system, the lactic acid remains in the muscle tissue and causes the pain and discomfort of sore muscles.
The longer you are active, the more lactic acid is produced.
When you exercise at a moderate intensity (enough to make you sweat but not so much that you're dripping), you can break down lactic acid at a rate that matches its production. But when you push yourself harder, your muscles produce more lactic acid than they can break down—and this is when you start to feel sore the next day.
Should You Rub Sore Muscles?
You definitely should not rub sore muscles when they are inflamed and tender. Wait for the pain to go away and your muscles to calm down before you massage them. What you should do is gently massage your sore muscles when they are no longer tender. This will help remove lactic acid, increase blood flow, improve circulation, and increase your range of motion.
While it is normal to experience some discomfort after working out, you should avoid rubbing sore muscles if they are inflamed and discolored. As muscles become more inflamed, they will become warmer, redder, and swell up. If your muscles are discolored and swollen, they may be overworked and require rest. If you are prone to getting sore muscles and experiencing pain that does not subside, it would be best to consult a medical professional.
If your muscles are not discolored and swollen, rubbing sore muscles can help ease the pain and promote healing. While many people prefer to rub their sore muscles with their hands, massage tools for deep tissue are effective at loosening up the tissue and increasing blood flow.
Will Massaging Sore Muscles Help?
Massaging sore muscles can help ease the pain and speed up the recovery process. As mentioned above, massaging muscles when they are not sore can help build up your strength and flexibility, not to mention reduce stress and anxiety.
The act of massaging sore muscles can help promote healing and decrease pain. If your muscles are not discolored or swollen, massaging them is a great way to help heal your body and decrease pain. If your muscles are discolored or swollen, massage may actually worsen the condition as it can spread the blood further into the tissue and cause more damage.
In such a case, you would be better off avoiding the discomfort by resting your muscles. Massaging your sore muscles can help promote healing and decrease pain. There are many different types of massage, and each has its own benefits. When massaging sore muscles, you want to focus on applying pressure in a kneading motion to help break up the tissue.
How Does Massage Help With Muscle Soreness?
When you massage your sore muscles, you stimulate the flow of blood and lymph, which removes lactic acid and other toxins from your body. Massaging your muscles can also help your body recover faster and more fully. It can help you reduce the risk of injuries and prevent post-workout soreness.
Massage is used to treat a variety of health conditions and can help to improve circulation and reduce inflammation.
When you massage sore muscles, you gently break up the tissue, increase blood flow, and help flush lactic acid from the muscles. When you massage your muscles regularly, you can improve blood flow to the entire body. This can have a significant impact on your health by improving your immune system and energy levels. Regular massage is also believed to prevent disease and speed up healing. It is thought to do this by reducing stress on the body, which can have a negative impact on the immune system. It is important to know also how to relieve muscle pain after workout.
Benefits of Massaging Sore Muscles
1. Better Circulation - When you massage your muscles, you increase blood flow to the area and promote healing. A study found that massage increased blood flow to the muscle tissue by 35%, and it could last for up to 72 hours after the massage session.
2. Helps With Anxiety - There are two main types of massage: relaxation and stimulation. Relaxation massage focuses on slow, steady movements and gentle pressure to reduce stress and promote relaxation. Stimulation massage uses firm pressure and faster movements to promote healing and increase blood flow.
3. Improves Mood - A massage can boost your serotonin levels, which can help improve your mood and promote relaxation.
4. Reduces Pain - Massaging your muscles can help ease the pain and stiffness associated with soreness.
5. Increased Range of Motion - Massaging your sore muscles will increase their flexibility, which is particularly important for athletes. Apart from that, massaging can help you improve your posture and reduce tension in your muscles.
6. Lower Stress Levels - Regular massage can help release tension and improve blood flow to your muscles. This can have a positive effect on your overall health and help reduce stress levels.
7. Improved Sleep - Bad circulation has been linked to insomnia and other sleep issues. Improved circulation can help you fall asleep faster and get better sleep.
When to Use a Massage Gun to Treat Sore Muscles
Massage guns are portable massage tools that are easy to use and promote healing. When your muscles are sore, they are inflamed and swollen.
Massaging your muscles when they are inflamed can actually worsen the condition and cause more damage.
In such a case, you would be better off avoiding the discomfort by resting your muscles. If you are not sure how serious your injury is, it is best to consult a medical professional. If your muscle soreness is due to exercise, you can use a massage gun to help reduce pain and promote healing.
A warm muscle is more relaxed and receptive to the healing process. This is why you should wait until the soreness from your workout has subsided. You do not want to massage the muscles while they are still inflamed. This will only make the pain worse.
Why Does Rubbing Sore Muscles Feed Good?
Lactic acid is the substance that causes the discomfort of sore muscles. When you rub sore muscles, you are drawing lactic acid away from the area, which helps relieve pain and promote faster healing. Lactic acid is produced when your blood glucose decreases, and your body turns to your muscles for energy. This causes a burning feeling in sore muscles. Massaging sore muscles will help draw away the lactic acid and speed up the healing process.
Rubbing sore muscles can help remove lactic acid from the tissue and promote healing. It can also help reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and boost the immune system. Rubbing your sore muscles releases endorphins, which are natural painkillers. When you rub your sore muscles, you increase blood flow to the area and help flush lactic acid away. Rubbing your muscles with a firm pressure can help break up the tissue and promote healing.
How to Rub Sore Muscles for Healing?
When rubbing your sore muscles, use a firm pressure to break up the tissue. You can also use your hands, a massage tool, or any other device that applies even pressure to the muscles.
1. Find the right pressure - The right amount of pressure can vary from person to person. It is important to find the amount of pressure that works best for your body.
2. Focus on the aches - If you are experiencing pain in your muscles, focus on the aches. Gently rubbing the areas that are sore can help reduce the pain and make your muscles feel better.
3. Use the right oils - Make sure you use oils that are safe for your skin. You can also try combining different oils to find the right scent.
4. Find the right time - While it is important to give your muscles plenty of time to heal, it is also important to be gentle with your body.
5. Do it in the morning - It is beneficial to massage your muscles in the morning. This helps your body heal throughout the day.
You can also try stretching your sore muscles. When your muscles are sore, they may be tense. Stretching helps relieve this tension and promotes healing.
Tips for Recovery After Workout
Healthy eating and drinking plenty of water are the best ways to recover after a workout. If you feel like your muscles are particularly sore, you can try easing the pain with one of the techniques mentioned below.
1. Drink plenty of water to hydrate your muscles and speed up the recovery process.
2. Eat smaller meals more frequently to replenish your energy levels.
3. Stretch your muscles to improve their range of motion and reduce their soreness.
4. Get enough sleep to allow your body to recover and rebuild muscles.
5. Use a massage gun or other ways to rub your sore muscles to speed up the recovery process.
6. Remember that everyone’s bodies are different, so soreness and recovery times vary from person to person.
If you experience muscle soreness after a workout, it is important to remember that it is a normal consequence of exercise and does not mean that you did something wrong. However, you should avoid rubbing sore muscles if they are inflamed and discolored.
Final Words: Why Does Massaging Sore Muscles Hurt but Feel Good?
Exercise is a great way to improve your health and well-being. It can also help you reduce stress and boost your self-confidence. However, sore muscles are a common side effect of exercise. For people who are new to exercising and often experience soreness, it can be discouraging and might make you want to quit.
Fortunately, there are many ways to help alleviate soreness and speed up the healing process. If you are new to exercising, gradually build up your strength and intensity to see results and reduce the risk of soreness. You can also try implementing other recovery methods between your workouts, such as stretching and drinking lots of water.
Remember, with the right approach, exercising can be a rewarding and fun experience that can help you live a healthier and happier life!