9 Ways To Speed Muscle Recovery
Making sure your muscles recover from exercise is very important if you want to have a consistent routine of training or athletic competition. Too many athletes and fitness enthusiasts focus their efforts on specific training while neglecting their recovery periods. Fortunately, there are some ways to speed muscle recovery so you can keep your body in the best possible shape.
A Light Massage
Part of the reason your muscles are sore is because they are inflamed and trying to gather energy that your cells need. Men’s Fitness reported that massage can improve recovery by helping your cells produce mitochondria, which use oxygen and broken down food products to create energy.
Listen to Music
You probably already listen to music during training, but did you know that music can help with recovery too? A study from the Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology showed that listening to slower music while recovering from a workout helps improve recovery time from muscle exertion.
Eat Enough Protein
Protein is highly-regarded in the fitness community as one of the most important nutrients for muscle growth. After you exercise, you must have enough protein in your body for the 24 to 48 hour period after your workout so you can facilitate sufficient levels of muscle hypertrophy, which will help your muscles recover and grow stronger.
Drink Enough Water
Water is one of the most important parts of keeping your body healthy in several different respects. When it comes to muscle recovery, drinking water will help flush out the toxins in your body so that your muscles can restore themselves back to peak condition.
Eat Coconut Products
According to Active, coconut oil contains compounds called MCT’s, or medium chain fats, which are treated more like carbohydrates than fat in the body. They help provide the body with the energy it needs during the recovery period.
Roll Your Muscles
By massaging your muscles with a foam roller that you can pick up at your local fitness store, you can break up knots and scar tissue that can cause pain during the muscle recovery process. This increases blood flow, which makes it one of the most effective ways to speed muscle recovery.
Eat Cherries
Eating cherries or drinking cherry juice is one effective way to boost muscle recovery because of natural antioxidants that are found in the chemicals that give cherries their red color.
Space Out Your Routine
The way you schedule your workouts or competitions is important to give yourself enough time to recover. After an intense workout, you need at least a day for your muscles to recover. Similarly, if you will be competing in a game or match, give yourself adequate time afterward to recover. This helps your muscles recover so you can perform at a high level.
Use Recovery Technology
Finally, if you’re not getting the recovery you need or want, or your performance goals require even better and faster recovery tools, a device like the Marc Pro or Marc Pro Plus can help. The Marc Pro and Marc Pro Plus are designed to aid in recovery by helping your muscles recover faster through electric muscle stimulation. When used as a part of a sensible, comprehensive recovery plan, the Marc Pro can speed muscle recovery and help you take your physical performance to the next level.