How does epsom salt bath and foam rolling help in relieving muscle soreness?

Question

Hello doctor,

How to relieve muscle soreness? What works on Epsom salt baths? Foam rolling? Using a Theragun or a similar tool? Hydrating? Eating foods that are high in antioxidants? Sleeping a lot? Eating foods high in antioxidants? Cryotherapy? Active recovery? Lacrosse ball fascial work? Stretch?

For each reason can I ask you to explain how exactly that helps the sore muscles? What are the signs that your sore muscles are something more serious than just sore muscles? Anything else you would like to say about DOMS?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Muscle soreness or DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) generally occurs if someone does strenuous physical activity in any form. Strenuous physical activity means when one's body is unable to do more physical work but that person pushes his body to do that. It can occur within 24 to 72 hours. It occurs due to small scale damage in the muscle fibers.

The best way to get rid of it is to increase any physical activity gradually because it will help in increasing the strength and stamina. Epsom salt bath, massage or sauna, etc. are helpful in muscle soreness because first they relax the muscles and second they increase the blood flow. The clear role of cryotherapy is still not understood.

I hope this helps.