Aching Muscles

[swoosh]

How do you help your muscles after a really hard practice so you can get up in the morning without feeling like bus hit you? I've got some long practices coming up and I'm looking for some ideas before it happens.

[Hunta]

:) ice bath as soon as you get in it kills but it works, take a protien supplement before and after aswell :)

[Spikes]

Ice would help if there was inflamation but I would be very worried if my muscles were inflamed enough to need that. I find that proper cool down and stretching is key, and if I am sore the next day then I start my day with a gentle warm and stretch session. That generally eases most soreness.

[jackrabbit]

I normally just stretch slowly and thoroughly the next day or soak in the tub if I am really sore. I don't think you need an ice bath like a football player as hopefully it won't be that bad.

[Spikes]

Well yes, I mean football players take all kinds of knocks. They would need an ice bath if nothing else to reduce the impact of bruising from all the knocks they take to their body during a match.

[grasshopper]

I tend to soak in the tub as well with som Epsom salts or a muscle soak I bought from the store with dead sea salts and good smelling stuff. I do some slow stretching an a thorough warmup the next day as well.