Move More Month: How Mountain Ice Sports Recovery Gel Can Improve Muscle Recovery

It's not enough to just strengthen your muscles -- muscle recovery is a massive part of staying in peak physical shape, whether you're a professional athlete or a recreational gym-goer. If you're looking to improve your performance, don't neglect steps to minimize downtime, reduce aches and pains, and rebuild muscle more quickly. Speed up your sports recovery with these methods!

1. Stretching

Muscle recovery happens when your muscles receive the nutrients they need to restore tissue damaged during physical activity. Stretching after a workout can help improve your circulation, and that increased blood flow will deliver restorative nutrients to your muscles that much more quickly. You'll also improve your flexibility and range of motion, as well has prevent some of the soreness and stiffness that comes with exercise.

2. Rest

You need your recommended 7-8 hours of sleep, as some of the most critical muscle recovery happens during the 40% of your sleep cycle that you spend in deep, non-REM sleep. During this point, your brain is far less active and using less energy, so additional oxygen is available to your muscles for repair. Sleep is also a period where a great deal of human growth hormone is released by your pituitary gland, and greater amino acid availability during sleep can help speed up muscle protein synthesis. Inadequate sleep may even cause a loss of muscle mass due to hormonal changes that result from a lack of sleep.

3. Refuel

You lose a lot of fluids and stored energy during exercise. Make sure you're drinking plenty of water and eating within 60 minutes of completing a workout. Your body needs hydration and nutrients to effectively begin the repair process! But how much water do you need? The American Council on Exercise recommends that you drink:

• 2 to 3 hours before working out: 17 to 20 ounces of water or other fluids.
• 20 to 30 minutes before working out: 8 ounces of water.
• Every 10 to 20 minutes while exercising: 7 to 10 ounces of water.
• After your workout: 8 ounces.

4. Electrical Stimulation

Electric current can relieve muscle pain from sources as varied as sports injuries, arthritis, and even endometriosis. TENS, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, sends an electrical current into injured muscles or tissue that disrupts the pain signals sent to the brain. This can be used to rehabilitate injured or atrophied muscles, relieve muscle pain, improve circulation, or even target specific muscles and muscle groups for strengthening!

5. Mountain Ice Sports Recovery Gel

Our new Mountain Ice Sports Recovery Gel has a formulation based on the original Mountain Ice but with specially curated ingredients chosen for their potential to strengthen muscles, reduce physical strain, and combat fatigue. This sports recovery gel contains natural plants and extracts with powerful antioxidant effects, such as ginseng, renowned for its energy-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties, and green tea extract, which reduces oxidative stress and promotes muscle recovery. Click here to try it today!