2 Simple Remedies For Your Post-Workout Aches
Time catches up with us all, and one of the many ways in which it lets you know that you're not quite as spry as you once were is the pain and stiffness in your extremities and in your back. The pain you feel after a hard workout is normal; it lets you know that you actually worked out your muscles, and that sweating on the treadmill for an hour wasn't a big waste of time. With that said, nobody likes being in pain, so finding ways to eradicate it at its onset can help you to function much smoother throughout your days.
If you got out of bed today feeling like a creaky old robot, chances are your fascia is to blame. Fascia pain is often attributed to the fascia, which is a large group of interconnected tissue that wraps around the muscles, bones and organs. When your fascia is in good working order, it helps to lower the chances of you walking like a robot the day after you've decided to train legs in the gym.
Try these two simple exercises to help prevent pain in the more common places that it can occur after working out.
Chest Trigger Point For Shoulder Pain
Simply take a tennis ball, or a rigid round object that won't easily break. Place the ball on the space between the collarbone and the top side of the armpit. Apply all of your weight into the ball, up against a wall corner. The ball should be trapped in between your body and the wall at this point. Roll or move slowly from side to side, with enough pressure on the collarbone and shoulder against the wall. Repeating this motion helps to loosen the muscles and the fascia in the surrounding area, which in turn gives more range of motion in the neck and shoulders, and takes tension and pain away from the area too.
Wipe Out Leg Pain Before It Sets In
For this, you'll need two tennis balls. Position yourself on the floor, leaning to the left side. Take the right leg and place it behind you; the majority of your weight should be on your left hip at this point. Place the two balls beneath your upper thigh towards the outside of the leg. For many, simply placing these balls on the legs is enough pressure to help reduce pain after a few minutes of non-movement. If you need further stretching, simply slide the leg forwards and backwards, and the tennis balls should gently massage the inner and outer portion of the leg. Repeat this on the other leg as needed. This pinpoints the IT band, which generally gets tight due to everyday wear and tear like walking, and is further aggravated during workouts. Keeping the tissue supple means better flexibility and less pain.
