How to Heal Muscle Ache
Muscle aches are often caused by tension or overuse, such as excessive exercising. Sufferers of chronic or sporadic muscle aches, sharp pain and tension around a specific muscle, can find simple tasks, such as lifting or walking, painful and difficult. There are methods to alleviate muscle aches that can be combined for even more effective relief.
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Things You'll Need
- Muscle ache cream
- Cold compress
- Hot compress
- Massage
- Hot bath
- Mild pain killers
- Acupuncture
Instructions
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Buy an over-the-counter topical, muscle-ache cream or gel. Many of these products contain analgesics, which contain salicylates (methyl salicylates), a common ingredient in pain relievers, such as aspirin. Rubbing a cream containing salicylates on your skin will allow it to absorb the pain-relieving properties of the treatment and quickly send relief to aching muscles and nerves.
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Use compresses. Place a cold rag or ice pack on the aching muscle as often as tolerated for the first 24 to 48 hours, according to the National Institutes of Health. Switch to a hot compress or heating pad thereafter.
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Massage the aching muscle with your hand or request that someone massage it for you. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMM.edu), massages help reduce pain by releasing the body's natural pain killer and mood enhancer (endorphins).If your muscle ache is in a difficult place to reach or no one is available to give you a massage, consider buying an electric massager that has an elongated handle.
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Prepare a warm bath and pour a full cup of epsom salt into it. A warm epsom salt bath relieves muscle aches by calming and relaxing the nerves, tendons, and aching muscles that cause swelling or pain. For the best results, soak in the epsom salt bath once daily.
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Take mild painkillers, such as acetaminophen, to help you manage the pain. Always follow dosing instructions.
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Consider acupuncture to help eliminate your muscle pain. Promising studies continue to trickle in on the ancient healing art, which targets pressure points with tiny needles. For instance, one clinical trial reported in May 2009 found that acupuncture, actual and simulated, was more effective than conventional treatment in relieving chronic low-back pain, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
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Tips & Warnings
Sit in a hot jacuzzi or sauna.
Always follow dosing instructions on muscle creams and pain killers.
Call your doctor if your pain does not subside with home treatment or if other symptoms coincided with the onset of muscle aches.
