How to deal with post-workout soreness (a.k.a. DOMS)

Here’s a story. One day, a couple of my friends and I went to the gym. We worked out, got tired and sweaty, and then we went home. Bunch of newbies that we were, we took a quick meal and a shower, ticked off health off our checklists for the day and figured all was good. The next morning, we all felt like we were run over by a bus. Joints achy, muscles sore, all three of us could barely sit on a chair without moaning and bitching.

It’s called Delayed Onset Muscle-Soreness or DOMS, and it happens to everyone who participates in fitness-related activities. Experts, athletes, and gym rats will tell you that the only way to get rid of it is to keep on exercising. But for those who simply can’t stand the ache or those who tried the gymming thing once and figured that it’s too much of a hell trap, here are your other options for a quick cure.

Ice it

After your workout, your muscles tend to get inflamed as a natural defense mechanism. It’s like getting a cast to prevent you from doing the strenuous activity again. Applying ice, preferably crushed ice in a waterproof bag, is believed to help lessen this inflammation and help you get back into motion. Medical professionals would argue that the effectiveness of this method only applies to injuries, but plenty of athletes swear by cooling down the pain away.

Drink some cherry juice

Drinking a bottle or glass of fresh tart cherry juice is another cure for the inflammation that makes every movement hurt after working out. According to a study from the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, tart cherries carry an antioxidant compound called anthocyanins that help reduce muscle inflammation.

Grab two cups of coffee

A study from the University of Georgia finds that drinking coffee after exercising reduces muscle soreness through blocking adenosine, a chemical released by your body in response to injury. Don’t get overexcited with the caffeine though because drinking too much can give you muscle spasms. For an effective dose, stick to two cups of joe.

Cook some fatty acid food

Another cure to the inflammation is cooking some meals heavy on fatty acids. Eating food rich in omega-3 fatty acids help reduce the soreness thanks to their natural anti-inflammatory properties. Some example of these are salmon, free-range meat, flax, avocado, and walnuts.