Dealing with muscle soreness can take a physical and emotional toll on a person. It will leave you tired, unable to perform your daily tasks, and in a bad mood. There are many causes for sore muscles but the most common ones include starting a new strenuous exercise routine, a health condition, or an injury.
If you’re currently dealing with muscle soreness, learning more about the different options for relief can help you find a remedy that works for you.
The solution on how to get rid of sore muscles is not one-size-fits-all. There are sore muscle relief treatments that can alleviate the pain overnight for one person, but sometimes it might not be the right solution for others.
With this, we’re here to give you a comprehensive list of tips for common tried-and-tested muscle pain relief treatments and remedies.
1. Hot and Cold Compresses
Heating pads and ice packs are one of the most common remedies for treating sore muscles. These are effective for a number of conditions and easily accessible.
We might think that we can use either of the two the same way, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes effective treatment might even require both hot and cold compresses used alternately. So when should you use a hot compress or a cold compress?
A hot compress is used for treating muscle pain or stiffness. The heat helps in improving circulation and blood flow to the area as it increases the temperature. As a result, it soothes discomfort, heals damaged tissue, and enhances muscle flexibility.
A cold compress, on the other hand, is used for acute pain, inflammation, and swelling. This involves reducing blood flow in the particular area of the muscle, which reduces inflammation and swelling that causes pain. Moreover, it can temporarily reduce nerve activity, leading to a sensation of numbness that can also relieve pain.
If you are experiencing muscle pain after a strenuous workout you can alternate between both hot and cold compresses to get the best effects. Use a hot compress right after you exercise to reduce delayed onset muscle soreness. Afterwards you can switch to a cold compress to reduce nerve activity and relieve pain from inflammation.
2. Over-the-Counter Medication
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain-relieving medications are often affordable and accessible remedies for muscle soreness. Unlike prescription medications, there’s less risk of side effects, such as dizziness, constipation, and grogginess. Many also don’t have habit-forming ingredients.
OTC pain relief medications such as Ibuprofen and Aspirin are commonly used for treating pain and swelling. They are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that work by lowering your body’s ability to produce prostaglandins, which is a chemical that causes pain, inflammation, and fever. The difference between the two is that aspirin can also reduce fevers and prevent blood clots while ibuprofen is mostly used for pain relief.
Consult your healthcare professional first before taking any medication for your muscle pain.
3. Gentle Stretching
Generally, the biggest benefit of stretching is that it keeps your muscles flexible, strong and healthy by preventing them from becoming short and tight. Short and tight muscles, which are typically caused by living a sedentary lifestyle, are weak and won’t be able to extend all the way. This will put you at risk for muscle pain and even joint strains.
If you’re experiencing minor muscle soreness, it’s recommended that you perform gentle stretches, which allow the blood vessels in your muscles to stretch and have more oxygen coming in. As a result, this will improve blood circulation, which can help in relieving muscle pain.
4. Topical Pain Relief Remedies
Applying topical pain relief remedies, such as muscle creams, balms, and rubs, directly to the area where you’re feeling the most pain is helpful for soothing sore muscles. This method is used by a wide variety of people ranging from those with arthritis as a supplement to regular medication, to athletes who need sore muscle relief after a workout.
If you’re looking for topical pain relief remedies to supplement your medication, treat minor muscle aches, or prevent muscle soreness after a workout, Tiger Balm could be very helpful.
What Is Tiger Balm?
Tiger Balm offers a wide range of topical pain relief products that center around our goal of health and wellness through proven Oriental wisdom. With over 100 years of proven success, our world-renown pain relief formula has expanded from the popular ointment to other formulations to suit your specific needs, whether it’s for headaches, colds, or sore muscles.
Tiger Balm Products for Relieving Sore Muscles
If you’re wondering what Tiger Balm products are best suited for treating and preventing muscle soreness, we’ve got you covered. We’ve got ointments, rubs, sprays, and patches that will definitely help in effective muscle pain treatment.
Our Tiger Balm Ultra Strength is the product you should buy if you want our strongest concentrations. When applied to the targeted muscle area, it gives your muscles a feeling of warmth which offers comforting relief from the soreness. It’s made from herbal ingredients with active ingredients including Camphor, which helps improve blood flow, and Menthol, which gives an initial cooling sensation followed by warmth to help ease stiffness and sore muscles.
For a pain-relieving product that you can easily apply, you can get our Tiger Balm Pain Relieving Patch. This is great for sore muscles that have become too short and stiff from sitting for long hours and helps to revitalize and recharge your muscles. Like our Ultra Strength Ointment, our Pain Relieving Patch also has the active ingredients Menthol and Camphor. But in addition to these ingredients, it also contains Capsicum, an ingredient that provides temporary relief from muscle aches.
Lastly, you can also purchase products from our Active line, namely the Tiger Balm Active Muscle Pain Reliever Spray and Tiger Balm Active Muscle Rub. These are best suited for those who are physically active as it helps prevent muscle soreness that could be a result of overexertion during workouts. Apply the Muscle Rub before you start your exercise regimen for better blood circulation in the muscles and to get your cold joints ready for some work. After you’ve completed your workout, the Muscle Spray can be used to help relieve pain in hard-to-reach areas. Both products have the active ingredients of Menthol and Camphor with the addition of Methyl Salicylate, which is great for pre-sport warm-ups and temporary muscle pain relief.
Buy Tiger Balm for Pain Relief Treatment
Supplement your other muscle pain relief treatments with Tiger Balm products. You can find Tiger Balm products in many stores across the United States. Find your favorite Tiger Balm products in a retailer near you, or buy them online today!