Have you ever had a great workout, only to wake up in a lot of pain the next day? Delayed onset muscle soreness has symptoms including pain, stiffness, tenderness, and muscle swelling. But don’t stop exercising just because you are sore! Here are some tips to help prevent and alleviate some of the symptoms of a tough workout:
- Drink a lot of water
- Be sure to ingest protein within 60-90 minutes after your workout
- Always warm up, cool down, and stretch as part of your workout
- Increase workout intensity gradually over time
- Get moving – by getting the blood flowing to the sore muscles, they will recover faster
- If necessary, use an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen or aspirin
