Muscle Aches and Pains

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MUSCLE ACHES AND PAINS

Whether it's your first sore muscle or an achiness that you've felt before, relax. The pain isn't permanent and it probably won't last long. Every January 2, health clubs are jammed aith women resolved to get back in shape once and for all-or lose their holiday weight gain. And every January 3, millions of people wake up with sore muscles.

Help your muscle heal

Take a 24-hour sabbatical

The very first step to heal an overuse injury is to rest the muscles that are hurting. Give your muscles a 24 hour layoff after they start to ache.

Ice it

It reduces swelling and soreness, slows bleeding from tears and soothes bruices. Place a wrapped ice pack or even a bag of frozen vegetables on your aching muscles for up to 20 minutes out of every hour until the pain subsides.

Distract yourself

Sitting around whining about how much you hurt will only make aches worse. So do something to get your mind off the hurt.

Shake a leg

Don't run out and exercise when your muscles hurt, but when the discomfort eases, get out there and play to your level of fitness. Your body will tell you how much to do or not to do.

For repeat aches, try heat

Women with chronic muscle pain often do better with heat than cold, because it increases circulation and muscle flexibility. Try a heating pad, a warm bath or even just a warm towel on the affected area for no more than 20 minutes at a time.