What Helps Sore Muscles After a Workout? What Science Says
Wondering what helps sore muscles after a workout? Whether you’re hurting from your first squat session or sore from a new bench press PR, this guide breaks down what causes soreness and what actually helps you recover. What helps sore muscles after a workout isn’t cold plunges, compression clothing, or cryo chambers—it’s the boring stuff: staying active, eating protein, taking creatine, and getting enough sleep. Massage might help, too—at least when it comes to easing discomfort. In this article, you’ll learn why you’re so sore after working out, how to reduce it according to research, and how long it usually takes to get back to full strength. Key Takeaways Muscle soreness mostly comes from tiny muscle tears and inflammation caused by unfamiliar or intense training—not lactic acid. You’re also more likely to get sore after exercises that stretch your muscles under load. Of all the recovery tools people use, massage is the most effective at easing soreness, but it doesn’t...