If you’ve been enjoying running training in Manchester or elsewhere, no doubt you’ve been feeling a bit of an ache here or there. The human body is a wonderful machine and it can be pushed quite hard, but in doing so you’re sure to feel the effects of your training sessions – and this just means that you’ve been doing yourself some good.
But if you find yourself struggling the next day after an epic run outside or a hard treadmill session, you might be suffering from a case of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). This is the pain and stiffness you might well feel between 24 and 48 hours after high-intensity exercise that your body isn’t accustomed to.
As annoying as this can be (particularly because it means you shouldn’t train when your muscles are feeling this way), it’s actually a good sign that you’ve done something right… even if it doesn’t feel that way!
One of the best treatments for this pain is putting some Epsom salts in a lovely warm bath and having a bit of a well-earned pampering session. These salts are rich in magnesium, which can help to widen blood vessels and support your recovery.
Ice baths are another option (and one that professional athletes often swear by), but you’ve got to be made of stern stuff to be able to sit in a freezing bath for as long as you can!
Failing that, going over your sore muscles with your trusty foam roller can really help to get rid of all those annoying knots and releasing the trigger points in your muscles. But this can also be painful if you don’t do it regularly so try to build it into your training sessions if you can.
Find out more on the NHS website.
