After an intense tennis match or workout session, you might feel extreme exhaustion, muscle soreness, and even nausea. This hit-by-a-truck feeling that you often wake up with the day after working out is called DOMS, which stands for "delayed onset muscle soreness". Luckily, there are many preventative measures you can take to avoid it.
Here's a quick list of 10 steps you should always take before, during, and after going to the gym.
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Do not abruptly stop while exercising; instead, keep steadily moving so fresh blood will be sent to repair your taxed muscles.
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If you are sweating a lot and doing a long workout, it's important to replace lost electrolytes with a sports drink or electrolyte-rich foods like bananas or avocados since these essential salts regulate heartbeats, muscular contractions, and nerve function.
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Consider getting a sports massage to increase circulation and break up major knots in problem areas that are always sore.
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Take a cold shower post-workout to reduce inflammation of the muscles. Or try an ice bath, which has been shown to reduce muscle soreness by 20 percent.
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