Soccer is a demanding sport. When the game is done and the final whistle blows, sometimes your legs feel so wobbly that you can’t walk.
The soreness and discomfort can be so intense the next day that it makes it a challenge for you to bounce back. Thankfully, there are some things that you can do to reduce muscle soreness between games.
Stretching to Reduce Leg Pain
If you stretch after you exercise, you can reduce leg muscle tension and maintain flexibility. Hamstring stretches will stretch the muscles on the back of the upper leg.
Calf stretches, such as standing an arm’s length away from the wall, putting your hands on the wall, and then stepping back with one leg while pushing against the wall, are beneficial. Hip flexor stretches, such as sitting on the floor with a straight back and putting both your feet together in front of you while dragging your heels toward you and pushing your knees down, are also great.
Muscle Massages
Depending on the extent of the discomfort you feel, a massage is an effective way to ease sore muscles in the legs. When you play soccer, you get tight quads and calves. This causes discomfort in other parts of your legs. A massage helps because it releases the tension all over the legs and stimulates blood flow. There are several techniques for self-massage that can be beneficial.
Rest
Your muscles need rest and recovery. When you rest, you give your body time to repair itself. It can be difficult to rest if you are experiencing muscle discomfort. Using CBD oil tinctures before you rest, take a nap, or go to bed at night may enhance exercise recovery and promote relaxation.
You need rest because the damage caused by exercise triggers your immune system to repair the damage. When your body rests, your muscles and other organs become slightly fitter than they were before. You will notice that with each consecutive workout, your recovery time will be reduced and the amount of rest you need before you can get back to exercise will be reduced.
Ice to Reduce Inflammation
Using ice and ice baths to reduce inflammation after playing may not be something you want to do. But there is a reason professional athletes use ice to stay fit during their season.
Ice packs and ice baths reduce inflammation. They help your body recover quickly and reduce the amount of soreness you are going to have in your legs after playing soccer. The cold temperature reduces circulation around the injury, which means less inflammation and swelling. After the ice bath, your body will warm up and your blood flow will return to normal.
Getting out and playing soccer is excellent exercise. Soccer improves your respiratory system and helps to build muscle. Since soccer is a team sport, it can have several mental health benefits. By following some of the steps mentioned above, you can help reduce the discomfort you feel after playing soccer.