How to soothe your aching muscles

Starting a new or different exercise routine usually leads to aching and sore muscles. Do not use this as a reason to quit exercising!

Here are a few tips to help soothe your aching muscles:

1. Ice: put ice on your sore muscles for 10-15 minutes. Remember those bags of frozen broccoli stored in the back of your freezer? These would work perfectly right about now! Put them on your legs (or wherever you are sore) and let them go to work. When you are done, cook up the broccoli and you’ve just killed two birds with one stone!
2. Keep it moving! The worst thing you can do for sore legs is to just sit on your couch or bed all day long. Keep yourself in motion with some easy walking, swimming, or biking to help reduce the build up of lactic acid . (this is what is causing the soreness) It may feel awkward at first, but give it a few minutes and you will feel much better!
3. Massage: have someone work gently on your sore muscles or use a foam roller .
4. Stretch: Do some gentle yoga or easy stretching. Push just to the point of tension, NOT pain. It should make you feel better, not worse. Always remember to warm up your muscles prior to stretching.
5. Rest: Give yourself a day off every week from intense exercise. Your body needs time to regenerate and repair itself.

How do you ease your aching muscles?

How to soothe your aching muscles

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