After a long day whooshing down Black Diamond runs, settling into a hot tub to ease sore muscles sounds like a dream ending to your day. But what if there's no hot tub available? Well, you're in luck.
Whether you just finished skiing or are fresh off a super-tough gym session, muscle soreness from fatigue or overexertion benefits from a variety of approaches, some of which may surprise you. And while It's always best to take a proactive approach (read: do leg-strengthening exercises before ski season starts or build up to a killer workout slowly), says Yael "Dr. V" Varnado, MD, a New York preventive medicine expert, no one's perfect. And these sore muscle solutions should help.
So try them—and get back on the slopes in no time.
Whirling cherry juice into your post-workout recovery drink may ease muscle soreness, according to a 2010 study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. Antioxidant compounds found in tart cherries called anthocyanins are believed to work by reducing inflammation. Try drinking tart cherry juice on workout days for less pain and inflammation.
Your morning Starbucks may be doing more than waking you up before an early morning workout. Studies show drinking coffee prior to a workout reduces muscles soreness and fatigue by nearly half. "Assuming no medical contraindications to the use of caffeine, I recommend two cups of coffee prior to workout," says Ann Kulze, MD, author of the best-selling Eat Right for Life series. "You’ll also take advantage of caffeine’s well-documented ability to boost endurance."
An herbal version of Bengay based on the arnica plant is just as effective as ibuprofen in easing pain, according to a 2007 study published in Rheumatology International. "The plant can be applied to the skin in a gel or cream form and can help with swelling and soreness," says Thomas Kouo, Licensed Acupuncturist and Pacific College faculty member.
Deep tissue massage following exercise has been shown to increase blood flow to muscles and speed up the removal of inflammatory chemicals which produce soreness, says Dr. Bosco. A study published in the journal, Science Translational Medicine, showed the positive effect of massage. "Massage above and below the area and then work into the sore part of the muscle," says Kouo. You can also use a self-massage device such as a Thera-Cane or apply pressure to sore muscles using a tennis ball.