No matter what sport you engage in -- from marathon training to powerlifting to aerobics classes -- taking care of your body after you participate in a sport is just as important as working out itself. By allowing your body to recover after exercise or strenuous sports training, you can withstand even more during your next session, thereby strengthening your body and performing optimally in a competition.
There are many different ways to recover after exercise.
Drink plenty of fluids to replenish those lost through sweating, stretch the muscles to prevent damage, and get plenty of sleep to help the body on a cellular level.
Acupuncture and massage are more great ways to help the muscles recover after strenuous exercise. But, these methods involve making an appointment with an acupuncturist or massage therapist, getting yourself to the appointment, and spending a lot of money to get what you need to be done. On the other hand, acupressure is an incredible way to get the sports recovery benefits you need in the comfort of your own home, on your own time, and relatively inexpensively.
What is Acupressure for Sports Recovery?
Similar to acupuncture, acupressure promotes relaxation and muscle recovery after activity. But even better, you can do acupressure yourself and also can avoid the needles used in acupuncture. There are numerous pressure points on the body that can increase circulation around the body when pressure is applied to them. This technique leads to increased oxygen levels to the muscles; increased blood flow will bring vital nutrients to the targeted areas.
After engaging in an activity, certain areas of the body may be sore -- or you anticipate them to be tomorrow. After an acupressure session, the body will have a stronger opportunity to heal and recover.
What are the Benefits of Acupressure for Sports Recovery?
Engaging in acupressure after a strenuous activity or competition will give the user the following benefits to aid in their recovery:
- Increased flexibility: Acupressure relaxes the body, allowing the muscles to stretch
- Shorter recovery time: Increased blood flow helps the body recover naturally
- Less swelling: Acupressure decreases inflammation
- Eliminate lactic acid: Increasing blood flow allows lactic acid to be more quickly removed from the system
- Less pain: Blood flow improvements through acupressure will allow the body to heal from any injuries more quickly
Acupressure at Home
One way to save money and immediately engage in acupressure post-exercise is to do it at home. The Q-Flex personal acupressure system allows athletes the ability to give themselves a massage -- hitting all of the pressure points anywhere on the body. A self-massager that can dig down deep into the muscles, the Q-Flex is integral for recovery from any sport.
