5 Best Ways To Get Relief From Muscle Pain
Muscle pain or myalgia is a common phenomenon affecting people of different demographics, including age groups, gender, and fitness levels. Its primary causes include muscle overexertion, physical activity, physical inactivity, stress, inadequate sleep, injury, infections, and disease.
Myalgia can affect any body part, given that the musculoskeletal system covers the entire body. Although muscle pain should clear up within a few days, it is uncomfortable, unpleasant, and slows down your activity progress, not to mention that it varies in intensity. However, five simple yet effective methods are below to induce faster muscle pain relief.
Use Kratom Products
Kratom is an herbal tree native to Southeast Asia, where local populations use it for various therapeutic effects, including pain relief. According to one consumer survey, 91% of kratom consumers in the US use it for pain relief, including muscle pain.
The herb is available on the US market in various consumable forms, including capsules, teas, powders, and gummies. Moreover, the herb is available in multiple strains; red kratom strains have potent analgesic properties. Therefore click here to find the best place to buy CBD Vape Juice online.
Although research on kratom’s full potential as a therapeutic agent is in the preliminary stages, mitragynine, the dominant alkaloid in the kratom plant, has proven anti-inflammation and antinociceptive properties. Moreover, one research study showed that kratom demonstrated a statistically significant increase in pain tolerance.
Kratom is an atypical opioid, meaning it affects the endogenous opioid system, which is the body’s innate pain relief mechanism, like pharmaceutical opioids. However, unlike opioid pain medications, it does not overstimulate the endogenous opioid system; hence it has a low propensity to cause undesirable side effects. The herb’s interaction with the endogenous opioid system substantially reduces pain signal transmission and muscle pain intensity.
Therefore, adding a dose of kratom to your routine can help alleviate muscle pain, regardless of the pain’s root cause. For instance, some fitness enthusiasts use kratom as a post-workout supplement to hasten post-workout recovery.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is an effective technique for ridding the body of muscle pain by inducing muscle relaxation, improving blood flow, and reducing anxiety. The technique utilizes kneading movements on the body that apply pressure to the muscles, soft tissue, and joints, helping ease muscle tension.
Muscle tension is among the leading muscle pain causes. It may arise from various factors, including straining your muscles, mental stress, and extended physical inactivity that causes muscles to stiffen.
According to one research study review, massage therapy is more effective than no intervention. Massage therapy helps ease muscle tension, alleviating the muscle pain resulting from muscle tension.
There are plenty of massage therapies available for easing muscle pain and other symptoms. Therefore, research to ensure that you choose a massage therapy ideal for alleviating your specific muscle pain to get adequate relief and your money’s worth.
Second, although massage therapy seems like a superficial process, it is a delicate process requiring expert training to avoid muscle injury. Consequently, massage therapists practicing in the US must undergo training and receive certifications and licenses.
Therefore, ensure you seek massage therapy services exclusively from certified and licensed massage therapists. You can view resources available on the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), a non-governmental organization that promotes professionalism in massage therapy, on how to find licensed massage therapists.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an alternative medicine practice originating from traditional Chinese medicine. It is one component of Chinese medicine used in pain treatment and entails piercing the skin using thin needles. The acupuncturist inserts the needs on strategic points (acupoints) to stimulate specific body systems, including the musculoskeletal system, for pain alleviation.
Although acupuncture is an alternative medicine practice, it is gradually gaining entry into mainstream medicine in North America. For instance, one research review highlights acupuncture’s proven effectiveness in enhancing endorphins (the body’s natural pain relievers) production.
Second, medical acupuncture is an emerging field where organizations like the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture support medical doctors to study acupuncture and incorporate it into their medical practices. Moreover, an expert review on complementary and integrative health rules acupuncture as safe when performed by a sufficiently trained professional acupuncturist.
Heat Therapy (Thermotherapy)
Heat therapy refers to applying heat to sore muscles, helping soothe muscle pain. The process utilizes warm compresses like hot water bottles, heat pads, and warm towels to dilate blood vessels located along with an inflamed muscle, helping to reduce inflammation-induced muscle pain intensity. Moreover, the technique also relaxes the muscles, relieving muscle tension.
Experts recommend applying a warm compress for twenty-minute intervals on the affected muscle to induce pain relief. However, avoid using thermotherapy for fresh muscle injuries because the technique will enhance inflammation and swelling.
Cold Therapy (Cryotherapy)
Cryotherapy may be on the opposite side of the heat spectrum from thermotherapy, but it is equally effective in relieving muscle pain. It entails using cold compresses like ice packs and cold towels to ease muscle pain.
The technique is effective for fresh muscle injuries because it constricts blood vessels, slowing the migration of pro-inflammation cytokines to the affected muscle or tissue. Second, it numbs the tissue and muscle, slowing pain signal transmission significantly and reducing pain sensitivity. However, the technique is not ideal for managing muscle pain resulting from muscle spasms or muscle tension.
Conclusion
Using the above techniques should help you overcome muscle pain and resume your daily routines. However, consider visiting a doctor if the muscle pain persists for more than a week.
