Even though technology has vastly improved equipment safety, athletes can still get injured or strained from using them repeatedly. They live by the motto of “no pain, no gain.” Hence, they tend to overtrain and unknowingly risk their musculoskeletal health.
Their hard work may win them medals and trophies, but their well-being should always be more important. If they can’t make adjustments to their training programs, they can at least use these products to help their injuries or sore muscles heal:
1. Kinesiology Tape
Sports medicine specialists often use a kinesiology tape to treat swollen muscles, increase support, and improve performance. It’s the colorful strips of tape you’d usually see on the joints of cyclists and volleyball players. A kinesiology tape can also treat ankle sprains.
Its other uses include re-training the muscles that have lost function or gotten accustomed to the wrong way of moving. For example, if you’ve had a stroke, you may lose the ability to walk normally. Taping can help train your legs for movement again. Another sample scenario has a hunched posture all your life. Applying kinesiology tape on your nape can urge your spine to straighten until the proper posture becomes second nature to you.
2. Posture Correcting Braces
These are different from scoliosis braces, which are designed solely for people with scoliosis. Posture correcting braces can be bought from any store offering musculoskeletal health products. Anyone struggling to keep their backs straight and their chests out can use them.
Posture correcting braces can help you stay in the right form when you’re deadlifting, for example. It’s also helpful when you work at a desk all day and often find yourself slouching. The product comes with different designs, but it usually resembles the straps of a backpack. You wear it like a harness and adjust its tightness until your spine is compelled to straighten.
3. Strapless Posture Corrector
Try a strapless posture corrector if you need to train yourself to avoid hunching your shoulders without braces. It’s a small device that’s connected to a smartphone app. Attach it to your lower back, and it will automatically vibrate if it detects your incorrect posture. It is an excellent alternative for braces, which might be uncomfortable.
4. Massage Gun
A massage gun helps your muscles recover after an intense workout or training. It comes with different speeds that you can activate through an app or the device itself. The massage gun vibrates and delivers percussive jabs at the same time, resulting in the most relieving sensation. It won’t cure muscle tears, though. You’d need professional help for that.
5. Foam Roller
Foam rollers are versatile. You can use it to massage aching muscles, stretch your back, or improve your flexibility. For example, if your calves feel tight, rest them over the foam roller and apply as much pressure as you like. If you want to massage your calves, spin the roller using the weight of your leg to receive adequate pressure.
You can also use the foam roller to increase the arch of your back. This would be beneficial if your sport requires flexibility. Place the roller right under the small of your back and just lay still, letting the arch of your spine adjust to the roller.
6. Lacrosse Balls
Even if you don’t play lacrosse, you’ll still love lacrosse balls. They help runners relieve tension before or after training. Just roll them under the balls of your feet with enough pressure, and any tightness or ache will go away. It can also massage your lower back and the muscles below your glutes.
7. CBD Products
If CBD is legal in your area, you can try CBD balms, oils, or gummies as a post-training treat. CBD can help you decompress after an intense training or treatment session. You can apply the balm or oil on the sore areas of your body as well. A CBD product with a kick of peppermint will also offer a cooling sensation that doubles the relief.
Talk to your doctor before taking any CBD product, though. If you’d use them in lieu of painkillers, your doctor should know so that they can research the benefits of CBD. Most doctors aren’t well-versed in this supplement because it’s not a conventional type of treatment. As such, your doctor may not be too happy to hear that you’d like to swap your painkillers for it. On the bright side, CBD doesn’t have the addictive properties of painkillers and THC, which is weed that can cause psychedelic symptoms.
These products will make your training sessions much kinder to your muscles and bones. Invest in good quality ones to get the best results. Don’t forget to go easy on your body, too, if you can. Your sport needs you to be in excellent shape, after all.
