{"id":14184,"date":"2022-09-12T06:11:28","date_gmt":"2022-09-12T13:11:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/massagegunadvice.com\/?p=14184"},"modified":"2024-12-29T19:46:26","modified_gmt":"2024-12-30T03:46:26","slug":"how-to-speed-up-muscle-recovery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/massagegunadvice.com\/how-to-speed-up-muscle-recovery\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Speed Up Muscle Recovery – 8 Things That Can Help"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As an athlete or fitness enthusiast, recovery is critical to improving performance. Proper recovery after exercise also helps prevent injuries and exercise-induced muscle damage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But how to speed up muscle recovery<\/strong>? What exactly is required for quicker muscle recovery, strength building, and improvements in your exercise regimen?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several ways you can speed up the process. Let’s find them out…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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8 Ways To Speed Up Muscle Recovery From Workout<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, it’s obvious that you’ll want to recover your sore muscles quickly after a workout. Apart from being able to work that muscle group again in a few days, it’ll also help you build strength and outperform yourself as you continue your physical training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the eight ways to speed up the process that are essential to help you recover from workout faster<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/span>\"stretching
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1. Stretching<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Stretching has major benefits<\/strong> for the body after exercises such as running or lifting. It helps to relax sore and tense muscles, reduce spasms, improve range and motion, and helps increase blood circulation and flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each of these things will help sore, tight muscles, stretch back to form and become stronger. Stretching isn\u2019t only beneficial after workouts, but also before. It helps the muscle fibers extend, so tight muscle groups are also going to benefit from a good, lengthy stretching routine after workouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stretching helps keep your body moving as well and prevents injury<\/strong>. This helps speed up the active recovery process, as the body remains limber and it doesn\u2019t allow muscles to tighten up on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/span>\"sleep
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2. Get Adequate Sleep<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sleep is crucial for overall health.<\/strong> Your body produces its own muscle-building hormones when it is sleeping\/resting (HGH<\/a>), human growth hormone. During the N3 stage of non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM), the blood that\u2019s flowing to your muscles increases. Tissue growth and regeneration and repair occur at this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the muscles in your body relax. This further helps relieve tension and pain. Those who are exercising intensely, and get enough sleep, are going to experience a great deal of difference in their lifting ability and in muscle development as they continue to train.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re not sleeping enough, you\u2019re groggy, feel a lack of energy, and this can cause your workouts to suffer as well. Not only is this going to limit your development in the gym, but it can also lead to injuries if you\u2019re not careful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sleep and training work hand in hand.<\/strong> When you\u2019re working out intensely, this is going to help improve your sleep patterns. And, when you\u2019re tired after a workout, you\u2019ll find it easier to fall and stay asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/span>\"improve
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3. Improve Your Diet and Fuel Yourself Properly<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Certain muscle recovery foods<\/strong> are specifically geared to help you do just that\u2026 recover!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Your body needs fuel.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

After a tough session of lifting or weight-training at any capacity, your body is depleted. If you aren\u2019t fueling it, you aren\u2019t feeding the muscles that you just trained so intensely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some foods to incorporate into your diet, and eat post-workout are:<\/p>\n\n\n

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  1. Carrots, sweet potatoes, kale.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Foods packed with Vitamins A, C, and essential nutrients.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Oranges, strawberries, peppers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Foods with high Vitamin C content.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Meat (turkey, red meat, poultry). The high protein content instantly fuels your muscles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Dairy – eggs, milk, yogurt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Again, foods with high protein content and also calcium (which can help prevent bone deterioration with certain leg workouts).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Salmon, tuna (seafood).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Food high in Omega-3 fatty acid content helps fuel your body with good, healthy fat after a workout.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

    There\u2019s no doubt about it, your muscles need to be fueled after working out, and a post-workout snack is an easy way to do this. Look for foods that are rich in high-quality sources of protein<\/strong>. The more protein intake you have after your workout session, the better and quicker the muscles recovery process is going to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    <\/span>\"Avoid
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    4. Avoid Alcohol Consumption<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Alcohol can interfere with your sleep patterns. Alcohol is a depressant<\/strong>, so it might help you fall asleep fast, but not stay asleep. Remember, sleep is one of the most important things you\u2019ll need for healing and repair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Apart from this, there are some debates as to whether having a drink after the gym is going to really impact your results and recovery. The key isn\u2019t not drinking altogether, but instead, to moderate your drinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you have a couple of drinks at week\u2019s end, you should be fine. If, however, you’re gulping down 5 beers a night, this will greatly impact your training, your sleep, and your ability to recover (and your waistline).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Therefore, you\u2019re going to want to minimize how much and how often you drink to achieve the best results from your workout regimen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    <\/span>\"Supplement
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    5. Supplement for Recovery<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Supplements are packed with protein and the necessary vitamins and minerals<\/strong> to speed up muscle recovery. This is what your body needs right after a tough workout to fuel the muscles and help fuel the body after burning so many calories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here are a few of the most popular ones:<\/p>\n\n\n

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    Creatine<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Creatine is thought to help improve lean muscle development, increase strength levels, and to help speed up the recovery process. It also provides a burst of energy and strength, so it can help athletes improve performance during a workout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Also, if you\u2019re trying to max out with reps or weight, creatine during and after your workout can help you do so.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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    BCAAs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Branch-chain amino acids helps reduce the onset of DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). Since you aren\u2019t feeling sore after working out (or as sore as you would without BCAAs), you\u2019ll be able to workout again quicker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Therefore, you can build, develop, and increase strength. And, with the improved protein synthesis, and feeling less soreness\/tension, your recovery and strength will be impacted in a positive manner.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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    L-Glutamine<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    As the building blocks of protein, researchers have found that this supplement can help reduce soreness, spasms, and improve recovery after a workout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Although it\u2019s not certain whether using L-Glutamine will actually help you build muscle faster (or strength), research has found it can alleviate tension and soreness quicker after working out.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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    Beta-Alanine<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    This can serve as a buffer after a workout or tough fitness session. The supplement can help with healing, spasms, recovery speeds, tension and twitching, tightness, and contraction of muscles.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

    Of course, the intensity of training, your diet, and other factors will play a role into it as well. But, supplementing after a strenuous workout, is also beneficial to those who train hard, and train regularly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    <\/span>\"Muscle
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    6. Muscle Recovery Drink and Products<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Similar to the right food fuel sources, there are also liquid fuel sources you can use to help with muscle recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Consider a few of these options.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    Water<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Water is critical for hydration.<\/strong> Muscles that aren\u2019t hydrated are tense, contract, and can easily become injured. Therefore, water serves more as a buffer to prevent injury\/tightness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And, by hydrating continually throughout the day, during and after your workouts, it will help prevent tightness, injuries, and help speed up the muscle recovery process.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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    Protein Shakes<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    The body needs protein after a workout. Protein shakes and powders deliver that in a compact, ready-to-go package<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you can\u2019t eat foods that are rich in protein immediately after a workout, this is the next best thing. You can also eat a protein bar as a snack after your workout.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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    Energy Drinks<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Some energy drinks are specifically made as \u201cpre-workout\u201d or \u201cpost-workout\u201d supplements. They\u2019re intended to help hydrate, fuel, and improve recovery<\/strong> and strength building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When choosing energy drinks, look for those which are intended for post-workouts, to get the benefits they\u2019re intended to deliver.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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    Milk\/Chocolate Milk<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Milk and chocolate milk are extremely rich in protein<\/strong>. Drinking chocolate milk also increases levels of glycogen in the body, which serves as a fuel in the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Drinking it after intense sports activity such as running or lifting, can greatly reduce soreness and tightness.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

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    <\/span>\"Ice
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    7. Get an Ice Bath (or Two) in After Workouts<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Sitting in a tub of freezing water can indeed help with post-workout recovery<\/strong>. This is called cold therapy and is becoming very popular as fitness enthusiasts embrace the freeze to help reduce soreness and inflammation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some people (especially pro athletes) are even fans of cryo-chambers, which reach temperatures well below freezing to relieve swelling, pains and sprains. The idea is that freezing cold temperatures speeds up the muscle recovery<\/strong> process after exercise by reducing body temperature, blood flow and circulation and inflammation and swelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This results in less soreness after workout activities. And, because your muscles are loose, there\u2019s no inflammation or blood clotting around the fibers, and if you\u2019re limber, this will help in injury prevention as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    <\/span>\"Massage
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    8. Get a Massage<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    A massage from a qualified sports massage therapist<\/strong> can do wonders<\/a> for your body after tough workouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But, if you can’t afford a regular professional massage, there are plenty of tools that can do the same job. A massage gun, ball, or foam roller, are excellent for relieving exercise-induced soreness and for injury prevention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We obviously recommend trying out a massage gun (also known as percussion massager). Here are some key things to know:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Massage Gun<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Massage guns are great for recovery in that they offer percussion therapy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n