Muscular Aches & Pains

There’s nothing like relaxing after a hard day’s work in the garden or a tough session at the gym…. but then the soreness sinks in.

Muscle pain can be caused by a number of different things, including lactic acid build-up (a byproduct produced by the muscles during vigorous exercise), salt and mineral loss through perspiration, or minor damage to the muscle tissues. It is usually temporary but can be quite painful.

If unrelated to exercise, constant muscle soreness should be checked by a doctor – it can be a sign of more serious conditions such as Polymyalgia (a type of rheumatism) or back or nerve injury.

Muscle Cramps

Muscle cramps can also be related to overuse of certain muscles for repetitive tasks, such as professional drivers, factory workers or gardeners, or may be due to an imbalance of minerals or electrolytes in the diet – particularly the mineral magnesium.

For those who play a lot of sport and perspire a lot, magnesium can be lost through sweat – a good magnesium supplement can be useful to counteract this. Sports drinks can also be useful for replenishing lost nutrients.

But for everyday aches and strains, there are ways of easing the pain, and lessening the risk of injury and soreness in the first place.

Preparation

Before sport or physical activity, warming up is essential. A physical warm up should include stretches of all the major muscle groups for at least 5-10 minutes. This helps the muscles relax and become flexible, lessening the risk of tears and strains.

A pre-activity rubdown with a liniment is also a fantastic way to warm and prepare muscles. Bosisto’s Eucalyptus Rub contains with eucalyptus oil and menthol in a soothing, penetrating formula which helps increase circulation and reduce the risk of injury. Rub briskly into muscles until a warming sensation is felt.

Alternatively, Bosisto’s Eucalyptus Oil can be rubbed directly into sore muscles, or added to an oil base, such as almond oil for an effective home-made muscle rub. Or for a convenient and portable muscle rub, try spraying Bosisto’s Eucalyptus Spray directly on the sore site and massage for several minutes.