Relaxing with Balls

After a challenging workout, or bad bail, every muscle in my body will ache; for days it seems. I will take an ibuprofen to help reduce the inflammation; but the numb pain will remain constant. Ice helps, but it works at reducing the inflammation, and can, if over used increase muscle stiffness, (when in contact with cold, our muscles naturally tense). The journal of pain reports that 64% of woman experience post work out hurt, with 34% of woman aged 18 and older suffer from chronic hurt. 

Chronic hurt, is pain that persists after an injury has healed. It is commonly linked with arthritis, osteoporosis, cancers, and whiplash. Pain, is our bodies "oh shit, something wrong" signal. In the case of chronic hurt, the pain is crying wolf. 

Often times the pain is a result of muscle tension trigger points being activated by referral muscle tensions. Pain might be felt in one area of the body, as a result of tension in another. The Journal of Pain, recommends balls to ease the tension.

Get your mind out of the gutter. Golf balls, Baseballs, Tennis balls, and volleyballs can reduce muscles tensions by simply lying on them and rolling about. 

Next time you have a nasty ache try these: 

To reduce foot pain, while seated roll your foot over and around the golf ball. The hard surface and small size gets into the meaty areas of the foot helping it to relax.

To reduce lower back pain, lie on your back with bent knees. Place a lacrosse ball on either side of your ribs and the top of your but. Breath in this position for a minute or two, and then try adjusting the placement slightly.

To reduce shoulder pain, lie on your back with a tennis ball between your spine and your right shoulder blade. First hug in your right knee with your left arm. Relax, then hug you left shoulder with your right arm. Relax, and switch sides. 

To reduce neck pain, lie on your back with your knees bent. Place a volley ball under your neck and let you head relax. 

And...my favourite, to reduce calf pain, sit straight against a wall with your legs extended. Place a baseball between your calf and the floor. Roll your leg over it. Feels so good.