JoAnn Yanez, ND
JoAnn Yanez, ND, is a naturopathic physician and medical consultant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and a past board member of the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education and the New York Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
Q: Can any supplements help minimize or relieve muscle soreness from exercise?
A: First, understand that a sore muscle is an injured muscle. When you push a muscle past its capacity, its cell membranes rupture… substances from within the cells pour into the bloodstream, triggering an inflammatory response… and inflammation causes pain. If you are always very sore after exercise—too sore to do normal daily activities—you may be pushing yourself too hard or working out incorrectly. If that is the case, a better approach than taking supplements is to reduce the intensity and/or duration of your workouts and ask a professional trainer to review your technique. Also, always stretch and rehydrate immediately after exercising.
That said, if you are prone to occasional soreness—for instance, after an especially challenging day of bicycling or a new exercise class that works your muscles in unaccustomed ways—supplements may provide some relief. Important: Ask your naturopathic physician whether any or all of the following supplements are appropriate for you and discuss whether the typical dosages should be modified. To use as needed for post-workout muscle soreness, consider…