You come home from the gym, toss your stuff down, and jump in the shower. Right away, you’re feeling good—rejuvenated, even. But then you sit down at the computer to work or go to sleep for the night. After that? Not feeling so hot.
Aches and soreness have nothing to do with a lack of physical fitness—even pro athletes and top-tier marathon runners feel sore.
Don’t worry, it’s a good sign. It means you’re getting stronger. So why does getting stronger feel so awful?
When you work out, your muscle fibers physically break down, only to rebuild bigger and better than before—that’s the goal! But in the meantime, the breakdown sure doesn’t feel great. Unfortunately, you can’t escape it, but you can help yourself through the discomfort.
Enter: hemp
#1 Brings Everyday Relief
After a long workout, tough hike, new exercise regimen, or another activity your body’s just not used to, you might be feeling it for a few days—“it” meaning that vague sensation of physical discomfort. Not painful, exactly, but not pleasant, either. When applied topically, CBD may just tip the scale toward being pleasant (no matter how many miles you ran the day before). Plenty of regular CBD users report less of a heavy, achy feeling post-workout, with a quicker return to their regular healthy selves.
#2 Regulate Exercise-Induced Inflammation
What’s one major culprit behind that previously mentioned muscle soreness you’re trying to alleviate? Exercise-induced inflammation. While major research is still being conducted, CBD is thought to support your body’s response to the sometimes uncomfortable sensation we call recovery. Topical CBD application has potential to ease discomfort and may help bring soothing comfort to where you need it most. CBD cooling creams and discomfort relief topicals are perfect for a post-workout cooldown. They’re convenient and portable, giving you little reason not to throw one in your gym bag or day pack as you head out on your next adventure.
#3 Relieve Tension
When you’re stressed, you tense up. When you tense up, your muscles tighten. And when your muscles tighten, you feel uncomfortable and stiff. It’s a tale as old as time, but with a new potential solution. When you notice yourself at any step along the path towards discomfort and excess tension, try giving yourself a CBD massage. This is a two-pronged approach that can do wonders for your muscle tension:- By lathering up with a topical CBD cream or oil, you’ll be reaping the benefits of hemp—straight to your tight muscles that need it the most. This may help relax the muscles, relieving any pent-up tension and making it easier to massage out knots.
- And, of course, massage therapy is a tried and true technique for alleviating muscle pain and soreness—even the DIY kind. Post-exercise massage can also reduce delayed onset soreness by about 30%, as well as swelling, and is expected to increase the range of motion in your joints.
#4 More Restorative Sleep
If you abide by the phrase, “You can sleep when you’re dead,” you may not be living your best life. Sleep is monumentally important for our basic functioning on a cellular, organic, and systemic level—with muscle recovery at the forefront of emerging research. To us, sleeping may feel like a chance to “power down,” but a lot is happening inside our bodies while our brains are off in dreamland. This includes:- Increased blood flow to muscles
- Vital restorative functions like tissue repair and muscle growth
- Full-body relaxation during REM sleep, relieving muscular tension
- Improved physical coordination with enough sleep
- Solidifying muscle memory
#5 Better Physical Recovery
Overall, when you soothe muscle soreness, reduce post-workout swelling, and give your muscles time to recover overnight, you’ll be better able to hit the ground running the next morning—literally. In this way, CBD plays the perfect partner to your fitness routine and holistic wellness.
