Having a hard time moving muscles after a long gym session? This is known as muscle fatigue and can result from any kind of strenuous physical activity. Muscle fatigue can also take the form of soreness, weakness or lack of energy.
We asked Chief of the Division of Sports Medicine at Tufts Medical Center, Matthew Salzler, MD for tips on how to recover from muscle fatigue.
Take time to recover
Always take at least one day a week off to allow your body to recover and stay hydrated!
Cool down
If you're doing weight training or any type of resistance training, it may be helpful to do an aerobic cool-down afterward such as a light jog or bike ride. If you're doing more endurance training such as long runs or long bike rides, a shorter ride or shorter run might be beneficial the next day. The goal of these activities is to decrease the amount of lactic acid in your body. Lactic acid is produced in your body during strenuous activities. Another way to reduce lactic acid is to wear compression stockings while working out.
Listen to your body
Pay attention to your body’s signals. Prevention of muscle fatigue is always better than treatment. If you notice that you're lifting too much and you're very sore afterward, you should cut back. If your activities are followed by severe pain or changes in the color of your urine, you should seek medical attention.
If you are interested in learning more or requesting an appointment with Dr. Salzler, request an appointment online or call 617.636.7846.
