In this guide from MVM Health, we explain how to design an effective routine for post-workout relief.
How Is Exercise Beneficial?
Physical activity is essential to living a long and healthy life. People who have a healthy weight and are physically active live an average of seven years longer than those who are overweight and inactive. Being active can help prevent or delay chronic and age-related diseases.
As a result, active adults maintain their independence and quality of life longer as they age. What you do after your workout is also an important part of getting results and healing your body. A post-workout routine helps maintain optimal energy levels, making it easier to stick with your fitness program.
What Happens To Your Body When You Workout?
In order to become stronger, faster, and healthier, working out is essential. Although exercising can place stress on the body, it is beneficial in the long run. When exercising, different muscles become fatigued and this may lead to microscopic damage to muscle cells. This stress to your body triggers your immune system. When your body’s immune system is triggered to repair the damage, your muscles, bones, heart, and lungs all become stronger and healthier. As a result, the next time you do the same workout, you won’t experience as much pain or discomfort. However, this will result in muscle growth, fat loss, improved insulin sensitivity, reduced inflammation, improved cardiovascular health, and an overall healthier body.
General Tips You Should Follow To Recover From A Workout
To ensure that your body recovers optimally from a workout, it is important to pay attention to what you eat, drink, and do afterward. Here are some general tips to help ensure that your body heals effectively:
- Stay hydrated: Staying hydrated is important, especially after sweating. Replenishing fluid levels can improve muscle flexibility, build strength and prevent muscle soreness.
- Eating a healthy snack: Plan to have a healthy snack or meal within an hour of finishing your workout. This helps start the recovery process. Eat foods that contain carbohydrates and protein. Carbohydrates help restore glycogen levels so you can replenish your energy levels. Protein aids in muscle recovery and provides amino acids that help repair and rebuild muscle.
- Do not forget to cool down: Always end your workout with a cooldown to allow your heart rate to gradually return to normal. It also helps stop blood from pooling in the lower extremities, which can cause dizziness or lightheadedness. Proper cooling can also help relieve stress, prevent muscle soreness, and prevent injury.
- Do light exercise on rest days: Although your muscles need time to recover after physical activity, you can still do some light exercise on recovery days, such as walking, swimming, or yoga. Active rest helps prevent lactic acid buildup, removes toxins, and improves circulation. Varying your workouts can also help you target different muscle groups and use your muscles in different ways.
How Can Regenerative Medicine Provide Post-Workout Relief?
Injuries resulting from exercise–such as sports injuries, damaged cartilage, ligaments, and tendons–require therapy to restore movement and function. Regenerative medicine has been shown to help restore the function of these structures, as well as speed up the healing process by boosting the body’s natural healing capabilities and promoting the growth of new ligament, tendon, and cartilage tissue.
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) and stem cell injections are two of the most popular regenerative medicine treatments, as they provide relief from a variety of conditions without the need for surgery or prescription drugs. At MVM Health, we offer these treatments and more to help you recover quickly and safely:
- PRP for Shoulder Pain
- Stem Cell Treatment for Shoulder Pain
- Proliferative Therapies for Chronic Knee Pain
- PRP for Hip and Knee Arthropathy
- Stem Cell Therapy for Hip and Knee Pain
If you are dealing with chronic pain, joint pain, sports injuries, or other conditions that do not respond to traditional treatments, you may be a candidate for regenerative medicine therapy. At MVM Health we treat patients in Lehigh Valley, East Stroudsburg, Scranton, Wilkes Barre, and surrounding communities with pain, vein, and wellness treatments. Our team is proud to offer guidance and a variety of treatment methods for chronic pain, including minimally-invasive alternatives to surgery. Call 570-445-2200 to learn more about our services today.
