Managing Sore and Aching Joints and Muscles

What causes sore muscles? It's very common for people to suffer from sore and aching muscles especially after doing activities where muscles normally do not get that much of a workout on a daily basis. There are a number of activities that can cause sore muscles, examples include golfing, biking, walking, or even common housework can lead to soreness in your body. Within a day or two of doing any of these activities is when you could feel soreness.

Why you feel soreness? After performing activities that your muscles are not use to creates small injuries in the muscle fibers and other tissue. Normally you begin to feel the affect of these small injuries the day after and they can last for a couple of days or even a week or two. The best way to prevent muscle soreness and these small injuries is to continue being active on a daily basis and performing routines that work and stretch those muscles.

What causes aching joints? Aching joints are usually a sign of osteoarthritis. According to Mayoclinic.com, "osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of your bones wears down over time." Once this cartilage cushion thins, your joints will become inflamed and increase in pain. Other causes of aching joints can include overuse of a joint or from a prior injury to the joint.

How do I treat sore muscles and aching joints?

There are a couple of ways you can treat sore muscles and aching joints. One of the easiest ways to treat sore muscles is to use an ice pack. Heat will make your muscles feel good for a short time, but a combination of ice and heat works the best. First, use an ice pack on the sore muscle to help prevent the muscle from becoming inflamed, and then use heat later to increase the blood flow to the muscle. Another treatment you can use is to take certain types of medicine such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin. These medicines are great for relieving muscle and joint discomfort. Some of the top brands of these types of medicines are Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, and Aleve.

If your joints are aching because of a prior injury or from overuse you can begin to treat them. The best way to treat sore joints is by actively getting in a routine consisting of stretching, exercising, and eating right. Most aching joints are caused overtime due to aging, and most joint issues are caused by osteoarthritis which is not curable. However, treatments can slow the progression of osteoarthritis and help relieve and improve your joints.