Fitness enthusiasts will at some point need to deal with soreness and pain as staying fit does come with some drawbacks such as muscle strain and joint pain. However, you don’t have to pop lots of painkillers if you do suffer from sports injuries. There are a number of alternative and natural pain relief treatments that can be very effective.
Some treatments will work better than others for you. Therefore, it is a good idea to try a few different alternative remedies until you find the one that provides the most effective pain relief.
Hot and Cold Treatment
One of the simplest and most effective treatments for minor sports injuries is to use alternative cold and hold compresses. This is a tried and tested method that helps to reduce inflammation and promote the healing of damaged tissue. The combination of heat and cold stimulates the body’s natural healing mechanisms. Fluid and waste products are drained more quickly from swollen tissue and fresh blood containing healing chemicals is allowed to flow freely to the damaged area.
- Use an ice pack or a packet of frozen peas and wrap in a tea towel. Gently place this against the affected area for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Then remove and apply the heat treatment (a hot water bottle or heat pack wrapped in a tea towel) for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Repeat the cold and hot treatment 3 times and finish with the cold treatment.
- Don’t leave the hot or cold compresses on for more than 5 minutes at a time.
- You can perform this natural treatment up to 3 times a day to relieve muscle sprains and sore ligaments.
Arnica
Many people find that the herb arnica can be beneficial in the treatment of sports injuries. Studies have recently shown that arnica can offer pain and swelling relief for muscle, knee and ankle injuries. The herb is known to have anti-inflammatory properties but exactly how it benefits healing so positively is not yet known. You can buy arnica in the form of ointments and creams. This can be applied directly to bruises and strains for pain relief and reduced swelling. You can also buy arnica in the form of homeopathic tablets and these will need to be taken orally (always read the manufacturer’s instructions before treatment).
Fish Oil
Researchers have found that when ingested fish oil can be a good source of the chemicals ‘prostaglandins’. These are used in the body to reduce swelling. Studies have shown that fish oils can be an effective treatment for conditions like knee, neck and back pain helping to significantly reduce pain and swelling.
You will need to take a slightly large dose of fish oils if you are treating injuries – between around 1,000mg and 3,000mg every day. For more serious chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis experts recommend you should take even higher does – up to as much as 8,000mg per day. You will need to speak to your doctor before taking elevated levels of any natural supplement to treat injuries though.
Magnetic Pulser Device
The Sota Magnetic Pulser has been clinically tested and proven to offer localised pain relief without the need for invasive drugs. This device works by generating magnetic fields. No direct contact is required but studies have shown that this can increase the effectiveness. The Sota Magnetic Pulser works by producing a frequency of tiny electrical micro-currents that stimulate the natural healing mechanisms of the body. This enables the body to remove waste products more effectively from damaged areas and encourages the flow of fresh, healing blood.
This device is safe and easy to use and has shown to be effective when treating pain and swelling resulting from minor sports injuries.
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