How do our muscles work?
Electrical signals sent from the brain, travel down the spinal cord and nervous system to each muscle. These signals cause a chemical reaction at the nerve synapse that initiates a muscle contraction.What causes muscle pain?
In the event of an injury, chemicals are produced to aid the healing process. These chemicals cause pain, swelling and inflammation. This is the body’s way of protecting the injured muscle or ligament from further damage by immobilising it. The swelling and inflammation also allow for more blood flow around the injured muscle, carrying vital nutrients to it to help with repair and recovery.
Most of the muscle pain experienced following an injury is not caused by the injured muscle, but by the muscles around it. These muscles compensate for the injured one and overuse of these muscles results in pain and muscle fatigue.
What diet or nutritional supplements can help muscle pain?
Whether the injured muscle is due to tension, stress, fatigue or injury, the healing process is the same. Relaxation of the muscles in important to allow repair and recovery. Numerous vitamins and minerals are involved in muscle function, and calcium and magnesium are two of the most important minerals in muscle recovery. These minerals directly target the injured or sore muscles causing them to relax. A deficiency in these minerals can lead to tense, tight muscles.
There are a number of forms of magnesium. The fastest acting of these is magnesium diglycinate. When this is combined with other nutrients (e.g., glutamine), it aids muscle relaxation and relief of muscle spasms and swelling.
Are there any natural remedies that can help?
There are a number of scientifically proven natural treatments that can promoted muscle recovery and repair. Certain herbs (e.g., olive leaf, rosemary) have been found to contain anti-inflammatory properties. That is, these herbs help reduce the activity of the immune cells that cause swelling and pain. Other herbs (e.g., passion flower, valerian root) promote pain relief and muscle relaxation.
