How to treat workout soreness with an FSA

While rest and relaxation is the most reliable means of alleviating workout soreness, we here at FSAstore.com know a few tips and tricks to help you bounce back from workout soreness with an FSA and stick to your fitness goals.

Getting into the swing of your new workout plan is a significant mountain to climb. Adjusting your schedule to get into the gym, developing a routine and sticking to it is hard enough when discomfort of muscle soreness rears its ugly head.

Soreness is the natural byproduct of heavy exercise, which results in stiffness, weakness and pain to the touch in overworked muscles.

Here are a few ways to get started:

TENS Therapy

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, also known as TENS therapy, utilizes low-voltage electrical current to treat muscle and joint discomfort. TENS therapy works by stimulating the nerves in an affected area and effectively "scrambling" normal pain signals to reduce pain. These machines are FSA eligible and can treat everything from muscle soreness to chronic pain issues.

Check out:Icy Hot TENS Therapy

Cold Therapy

Cold packs are one of the most reliable methods of reducing inflammation and pain associated with heavy exercise, and best of all, they can be purchased with tax-free income from an FSA, HSA, or HRA! Be sure to wrap the cold pack in a towel to avoid discomfort against your skin, and rotate it on and off the affected area in 10-20 minute intervals.

Check out: TheraPearl

Pre- and post-workout stretching

We all know that jumping headlong into a workout without properly stretching can expose you to significant injury, but it's the post-workout stretch that can make a huge difference in eliminating lingering soreness after a workout. This can eliminate some of the tightness that is associated with heavy exercise, as well as increasing your range of motion, promoting blood circulation and reducing cramping.

Kinesiology Tape

Kinesiology tape is a flexible elastic tape with a variety of therapeutic benefits that can help you bounce back from muscle soreness and other related injuries. Also referred to as K-Tape, the tape will provide a passive lift to the skin to allow lymphatic and venous systems to drain from inflamed areas. Additionally, K-Tape can inhibit movement in specific areas to prevent further injury, as well as providing muscular support to improve recovery times.

Check out: KT-Tape

Before you get back in the gym, make sure you visit FSAstore.com to explore the web's largest selection of FSA eligible products! We can help you maximize the potential of your healthcare benefits and build a foundation for continued good health and wellness for you and your loved ones.