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So once again, after a short break, I'm hitting the gym fiercly. I'm not letting muscle soreness slow me down this time. But what to do about it.

Does anyone take muscle relaxers or pain killers for soreness? How much is too much? What else can I do other than bathe in Tigerbalm (there by negating anyone wanting to spend time in my company)?

I take malic acid supplements with magnesium and calcium after a workout- works really well for me. Good Luck!

Do you stretch after working out? If not, you might want to add that to your cool down period. If you do, you might want to add some more.

Soreness is your body's response to a new stress. The best thing to do is to build up gradually and not work too hard through soreness because it's not too far of a stretch (literally) from microtears to a strain or pull.

Runn is right. Starting a new workout program means muscle soreness. That is a sign that you have pushed the muscles hard enough to grow. Embrace it. Enjoy it. Learn from it. Excessive soreness and pain is different. But being sore, to me, just means you hit a new muscle that has not been worked. Enjoy that it has. It means growth and strength.

Something I learned from a few circus performers/gymnasts I've been training with is to soak in hot water with some epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) for about 15 mins. It helps to relieve muscle soreness.

FYI, this question was already posted in the forum: http://www.realjock.com/gayforums/292550/

yeah enjoy it because in a few weeks it will probably stop, and youll have to put out a lot of effort to get that feeling again.

i suggest branched chain amino acids

thanks for the responses. I've decided to a take a day off too, since the soreness has gotten bad and muscle relaxers arent working. I'll try the epson bath tonight.

Frankly I'm surprised that a post on training actually got so many quick responces.

keep training, unless the soreness is actual pain BUT leave a few days between sessions and either do soemthing like swimming in the days between OR do the same routines, but with almost no weight so the muscles are worked, blood and get in and heal. the absolute worse thing you can do is leave it a week, as you will just start again. I love soreness. It´s part of the reason I train.

Let's see, soak in bath tub with some Epsom salts and see about getting a sports massage. That really helps with the soreness.

i've never had a massage before

USArmyMutt saidi've never had a massage before

Say it ain't so! do some stretching and yes a massage if you can get one

The few times people have tried to give me neck/shoulder rubs, all I feel is pain. So I've never gotten a real one.

I do give a great massage though, especially foot massages.

I get a very sore back and abs from kayaking. If I didn't I would be out nearly every day. Someone told me that you shouldn't have a hot shower or a message withing 48 hours as the muscles are still breading. This goes against everything I've heard in the past. I was told that hot showers and messages prevent a lactic acid build up and therefore less muscle tearing. I'd be interested in knowing which is true.

UsarmyMutt,

If your are offering (foot massage), I am buying. When do you want me over? After I turned 40 I just expect to be sore, so I pop an advil every once in awhile and a massage monthly. Cost of age I guess. I would rather do that then give up my workouts.

I always like to spoil myself for putting so much time and effort into my health and well being after exercizing by having a dip in the pool for about in hour, than about 30 minutes in the hot tub, followed by a long slow full body stretch, then I'll drink some hot chamamile tea and a good long nap, if not sleep, depending on the day, length of my workout and amount of effort I put into the day's workout. But if all else fails, sex, a bottle of wine and a cigarette help too. Reminds me... I need to get laid =D

stretching, Hot Showers, bathing, Hot Oil massaging, icing or advil...

I am a fan of sitting in the sauna for ten minutes, taking a cold shower, then back in the sauna. The hot/cold really helps with soreness.

MikemikeMike saidI take malic acid supplements with magnesium and calcium after a workout- works really well for me. Good Luck!

Good answer! Also potassium if your getting cramps or your muscles are tight....works within a half hour for me.


Jeez....I miss actually feeling sore the day after working out....it means your muscles are growing!

i find taking amino acid pills help with the recovery and soreness

Eat more protein. You'll keep getting sore, but the protein will help you recover faster.

yep eat one gram of protein per body weight per day

test_rj saidyep eat one gram of protein per body weight per day

Actually the amount of protein you need isn't necessarily dependent on body weight. You need about of 40g a day baseline and it goes up from there depending on your lean muscle mass and activity level, but there's no special formula saying exactly how much you need. When I'm lifting hard every day and trying to gain I'll eat as much as 350g, but I usually get around 200g.

Muscle soreness means that your muscles are in a state of recovery. To train muscles that are still sore from a previous workout is counter productive. You will be constantly tearing them down, but not giving them time to rebuild. The result is a weakened immune system, fatigue, irritability, and an over-all burn out on your current workout. We in the industry call it "over-training".

For quicker muscle recovery after a workout, I take L-Glutamine. It is the most abundant amino acid in the human body, and it helps your body re-absorb lactic acid. Apart from aiding in immune system support and healthy organs, L-Glutamine helps to reduce the time that your muscles are sore after a workout (mainly D.O.M.S.). There are usually trace amounts of L-Glutamine in your normal, every day protein powders, but I like to take it on its own too. It really helps. It will cut the the recovery time after a workout by about 50%

USArmyMutt saidSo once again, after a short break, I'm hitting the gym fiercly. I'm not letting muscle soreness slow me down this time. But what to do about it.

Does anyone take muscle relaxers or pain killers for soreness? How much is too much? What else can I do other than bathe in Tigerbalm (there by negating anyone wanting to spend time in my company)?

Over the years, I've found my ability to recover has increased substantially. I rarely get sore. One thing I've found that seems to work for me, and others, is light activity, flushing the muscle group out. I.e., if I do legs, and end up sore, riding the bike at low intensity does wonders for the recovery.

I've been having a major problem with recovery being a vegetarian. Most of my friends that aren't vegetarians don't seem to have this problem as bad as me. I'm jealous. but i also use protein supplements and vitamins but i still take way longer to recover. anybody else have that problem? or know a cure that's vegetarian friendly?

Christian73 saidDo you stretch after working out? If not, you might want to add that to your cool down period. If you do, you might want to add some more.

Im a big advocate of stretching. I never knew how much of a difference it made in recovery until my old sensei forced me to take some yoga and incorporated it into some of my training.