You have just completed an intense workout session, and you know you’re going to be paying for it with aches and pains in the morning. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about how to mask this muscle soreness? Popping a few Ibuprofen sounds like a good idea! After all, they are pain relievers. If you just take them for a day or two, you’ll be recovered in no time and you would have avoided all of that unnecessary pain. Incorrect!!!

Did you know that Ibuprofen doesn’t take care of muscle damage or soreness any faster than your body’s natural ability to recover? It’s true. The only thing Ibuprofen will do is temporarily mask the pain associated with muscle soreness and healing. This still sounds good, but there is a major negative associated with this method. Taking Ibuprofen, or any other pain relievers for that matter, can actually impair the body’s natural recovery process. This is a problem because without proper recovery, your body cannot make strength gains. Without strength gains, your body won’t gain any additional muscle, and that last intense workout can be deemed practically worthless and a waste of time.

I know that taking Ibuprofen after a workout may seem like a good solution for muscle soreness, but muscle soreness and healing are essential parts of the recovery process. They are a little reminder that you worked hard and your body is changing because of that hard work. Ibuprofen obviously has its uses, but these uses are associated with injuries. They shouldn’t be used for natural muscle soreness from intense exercising. Do yourself a favor, and avoid Ibuprofen at all costs when trying to recover from a workout.

TRICK FOR MUSCLE RECOVER

After your workout, take a shower. Alternate medium-hot water and cold water while in the shower for 10-15 minutes. The medium-hot water will be used to loosen the muscles, and the cold water will be used to lower the level of inflammation. It won’t be one of the most relaxing showers you’ve ever taken, but it works!

-Tom