Can stretching relieve muscle soreness?
Sep 20, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Chen Jian
Introduction
In general, stretching can help relieve muscle soreness, but care should be taken to avoid excessive or improper stretching. Besides stretching, other methods such as heat therapy, cold therapy, and massage can also alleviate muscle discomfort. Heat therapy promotes blood circulation and accelerates lactic acid metabolism; cold therapy helps reduce muscle swelling and inflammation; and massage improves blood flow, thereby speeding up muscle recovery.
In general, stretching can help relieve muscle soreness, but care should be taken to avoid excessive or improper stretching. The detailed explanation is as follows:
Muscle soreness is usually caused by muscle fatigue, lactic acid buildup, or minor muscle damage. Stretching can improve muscle flexibility and blood circulation, which helps metabolize and remove lactic acid, thereby alleviating soreness. Appropriate stretching relaxes tense muscles, reduces muscular irritation, accelerates lactic acid elimination, and gradually reduces symptoms of muscle soreness.
However, it's important to note that overstretching or incorrect stretching techniques may worsen symptoms or cause new injuries. Therefore, gentle and progressive stretching is recommended when experiencing muscle soreness. Focus on the specific muscle groups that feel sore rather than randomly swinging the body. Also, pay attention to coordinating breathing during stretching—deep breathing helps relax muscles and makes stretching more effective.
Besides stretching, other methods such as heat therapy, cold therapy, and massage can also help relieve muscle soreness. Heat application promotes blood circulation and accelerates lactic acid metabolism; cold therapy helps reduce muscle swelling and inflammation; massage improves blood flow and speeds up the metabolism of accumulated lactic acid, thus facilitating faster muscle recovery.
