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THE WALK IN TUB IS A GREAT WAY TO DEAL WITH SORE MUSCLES

By Alan Knight

Yes, we all deal with sore muscles. It is not the worst case of physical maladies, but we hate it none the less. It not only creates nagging pain, but it also immobilizes us to an extent. If it is alters our lifestyle negatively, and limits our ability to function normally, we want it to stop. It may be common, but it is uncommonly annoying. Let's take a look at how it comes about, how it affects us and how we can deal with it.

Let's first examine what causes muscle soreness, cramps, sprains and strains. General soreness after exertion (Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is typically caused by micro tears in the muscle. Over time as the muscles rebuild themselves stronger to accommodate the activity, soreness should decrease. A muscle cramp is a strong, painful contraction or tightening of a muscle that comes on suddenly and lasts from a few seconds to several minutes. It can be linked to a variety of causes, including:

• Exercise, injury or overuse

• Blood flow problems

• Lack of minerals such as calcium, potassium and magnesium

Courtesy of en.wikipedia.org

• Dehydration (we see this a lot with athletes)

• Certain medications

A muscle “sprain” is an injury to a ligament (tissue that connects two or more bones at a joint.) In a sprain, one or more ligaments is stretched or torn. A muscle “strain” is an injury to a muscle or a tendon (tissue that connects muscle to bones). In a strain, a muscle or tendon is stretched or torn. Sprains and strains are generally caused by trauma (falls, twists, impacts or overuse.)

Always remember, if pain is severe or incapacitating, please see your health care professional. This blog is for information only, and is not intended to replace trained medical advice.

Let's look at some “common sense” home treatments for sore muscles:

REST. Sometimes the best thing one can do is to do nothing at all. If you rest up for a couple of days, general muscle soreness should pass on its own. Of course, for many of us, when things get busy at work or in the garden, rest isn't easy to come by, so do what works best for you.

Courtesy of en.wikipedia.org

MOVEMENT. If you're just stiff and sore, more of what got you that way may be the answer. Over time, your muscles will build and strengthen and you'll be able to do more with less discomfort. I know if I sit too much (like researching and writing this blog), I get awfully stiff. Just getting up and moving around and doing some gentle stretching works wonders. Our muscles tend to want to stay doing whatever they're doing unless we force them to change. If you're tensed up, they'll stay tensed until you do something about it. Stand up, walk, run, stretch, and do gardening – do whatever you can to be active so you can stay active as you age.

EPSOM SALTS. I know what you're thinking. “That's an old fashioned remedy.” Well, it may be but it sure seems to work. Tried and true, a cup or two of Epsom salt dissolved in a warm tub of water works wonders for aching muscles. Use warm, not hot, water. Warm water will dry out your skin less than hot water. Soak for 15 minutes or until the water has cooled, up to three times per week. Not recommended for those with health conditions such as heart problems, high blood pressure or diabetes. How does Epsom salt work? Epsom salt is made of magnesium sulfate. Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant, and as a salt they may help to pull excess fluids out of the tissues, reducing swelling.

Check out this short video on Warm Water therapy.

One of the more entertaining “folk” remedies for treating sore muscles is that of consuming APPLE CIDER VINEGAR. Those who recommend it suggest mixing a tablespoon or two in a glass of water and drinking it down, or even taking it straight like a shot. A variation of this is a fellow who drank raw pickle juice and achieved similar results. But I digress...

PROPER DIET is always good advice for dealing with almost any physical problem. Plan a diet that includes keeping hydrated. If your muscles are sore from intense activities such as weightlifting, your muscles are rebuilding themselves, needing water and lots of protein. Aim to take 1 gram of protein per day for ever pound of lean body mass you have. Here is an example, a 160 lb. Man at 20% body fat would want to take in approximately 130 grams of protein per day. This will speed up recovery time considerably, as well as prevent muscle loss from poor nutrition. Take protein 15 to 45 minutes after workout for best results. Another thing, drink lots of water while you work out and throughout the day. Your muscles need water to function at their peak, and your body needs water to repair your muscles.

Courtesy of pixabay.com

MASSAGE your muscles. When you exercise to exhaustion, tiny tears occur in muscle fibers. The body's natural response to these tears is inflammation. Massage helps reduce the amount of cytokines the body produces, which plays a role in inflammation. Massage also seems to increase the amount of mitochondria in your muscle, which enhances the muscles' ability to extract oxygen. Two things I recommend: First seek out a good massage therapist and allow them to work on your sore muscles. Massage therapy is relaxing, meditative, and healing. Second, learn to massage the muscles yourself. Depending on location of the soreness, you can try to give yourself a massage. Use a combination of your thumbs, knuckles and palms to work deep into the muscle tissue. If you are massaging a sore muscle, don't focus on the middle of the sore muscle. Focus more on the connections at each end. This will help the muscle to relax more quickly. If the muscles are along the back and neck, see a massage therapist. These areas are dangerous to massage with proper training.

Courtesy of TubKing.com

THE WALK IN TUB has done more to relieve sore muscles than any modern medical device that has come along in recent years. First, it is designed for comfort and safety. Each tub is built to stand upright so there is no stepping down into a deep (below floor level) spa. It has a water-tight door for entry and a low threshold (approximately 6 inches) for entering the tub. This was designed to eliminate the possibility of falling while entering the tub or exiting. The seat inside the tub is ADA compliant and is contoured for the back and comfort. The tub is filled with warm water to soothe the body, but offers the added bonus of air jets and water jets to massage the body. The water jets can be adjusted to reach any part of the body and the massage action is thorough. A few minutes in a Walk in Tub can truly make a difference for those dealing with sore muscles. Many athletes find the Walk in Tub to be a life saver.

Yes, we all deal with aching muscles, but we don't have to suffer. There are solutions so don't give up or give in to pain.

In this article I have discussed several way to deal with muscle aches and pains along with ways to reduce your overall pain levels as well. These include nutrition, diet, soaking in Epson salts, massage and water therapy with a walk-in tub.

Would you like to receive a FREE COPY of our new ebook? – “Tub King's Ultimate Guide to Cast Iron/Porcelain Tubs, Walk-in Tubs & Safety Suite Showers” Fill in the form below and we will send it to you for free! It is also for sale and you can see/buy it on Amazon.com by clicking on this link.

Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or email listed at the end of this article and I will personally get back to you. It’s been my pleasure sharing this information with you.

Alan Knight is the owner of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville, Florida. He has many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub industries. In addition to providing superior products, Tub King has been honored with “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Awards” for four years running. If you would like to contact Alan Knight, call (800) 409-3375 or (800) 843-4231; or send an email to alan@tubking.com.

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Sciatica Can Be Very Painful... But the Walk-in Tub can help!

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By Kerry Knight

Sciatica is leg pain caused by a pinched nerve in the lower back. The sciatic nerve is a peripheral nerve made up of the spinal nerves that originate at L4, L5 and sometimes S1. The most common cause of this nerve irritation is a disc problem, such as a bulging, herniated or a degenerative disc. It can also come from having spinal arthritis that is inflaming the nerve, or possibly a misalignment in the lower spine or sacroiliac joint.

Courtesy of en.wikipedia.org

And let's not forget the cause of injury. I recently made a misstep on a rather slick hardwood floor while wearing socks. I had two legs going in opposite directions... like the splits! At age 66, my body is not wired for that kind of contortion. There was an immediate pain in the hip. Swelling and a large bruise on the upper thigh following. After a couple of trips to the doctor, he concluded I had stretched by quad muscle severely and aggravated the nerve. The sciatic nerve can be relentless unless we keep moving. Although the pangs begin in nerve roots located on either side of the lower spine, they then course through the sciatic nerve, which runs the length of each leg from the buttock down to the foot. The leg agony is often worse than the back pain,” says William A. Abdu, MD, medical director of the Spine Center of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Usually felt in one leg, the sensation can be tolerable, says Birgit Ruppert, a physical therapist at the Spine Center. Some people liken it to the nerve pain you experience if you have a toothache.

Pain relievers can definitely help. I have used ibuprofen (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory) to ease the distress. Doctors sometimes prescribe muscle relaxants if painful muscle spasms accompany a disk herniation. “These won't help with the pain caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve, “says A. Nick Shamie, MD, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

Courtesy of en.wikipedia.org

Home remedies would start with proper exercises. Moving is usually the last thing people dogged by sciatica want to do, but it's important to be physically active. “Lying in bed makes it more likely that the pain will last longer, “says Ruppert. Exercise increases blood flow to the disk and the nerve, helping to get rid of the chemicals causing the inflammation.” Take 15 to 20 minute walks. If that hurts too much, give swimming or water aerobics a try; there's not as much pressure on the back when you're in the water, says Ruppert.

Another non-invasive form of treatment would be Massage Therapy. Trigger point therapy is best, says Jeff Smoot, vice president of the American Massage Therapy Association. The sciatic nerve sits underneath a muscle called the Piriformis, which is located beneath the glutes. “When the Piriformis muscle gets tight, it pinches the sciatic nerve, causing tingling and numbness down into the leg, “says Smoot. He applies pressure to irritated and inflamed areas, or trigger points, in the Piriformis muscle, as well as in muscles in the lower back and glutes to provide relief. Typically, Smoot schedules treatments 7-10 days apart. If patients don't see progress by the fourth visit, “they need to try another form of therapy, “he says.

Check out this testimonial on the benefit of our walk-in tubs.

My wife and I recently purchased our Walk in Tub from Tub King, Inc. The price was exceptionally good and the quality is better than most I've seen. A few days ago, I decided to try it for the first time. The tub comes with an upright construction, about 40 inches tall from the floor. It has a door that allows you to enter and exit, without the extreme step-up on a traditional bathtub. There is also a seat inside the tub, about 17 inches tall, like most comfortable chairs. It is sculptured so that you can lean back in comfort. I then filled the tub with warm, relaxing water. After the water level had covered the water jets, I pressed the convenient button on the side of the tub and engaged the bubbler, immediately, thousands of warm relaxing bubbles and surging water began to fill the tub. I could feel the results instantly. I turn around and adjusted the water ports so that the jets were aimed directly at my problem area. I was in heaven. I remained in the tub for 25 minutes, and really didn’t want to leave. A few minutes later, my wife recognized a change in my step and my demeanor. “How was it, “she asked?

Courtesy of TubKing.com

“I think I will sleep well tonight, “I said. And how right I was. I didn't wake up a single time. Plus, the next day I felt rested for the first time in a long time. I suppose it was a combination of the warm water and the massaging action of the jets. But more importantly, it was a therapy I could control and enjoy, any time I wanted. The Walk in Tub was a great investment, and it has made dealing with pain a lot easier.

This article discusses how you can reduce back pain with various simple and natural methods. It also talks about the many benefits the walk-in tub provides for alleviating lower back pain. This article includes information about the available options to consider for getting the maximum therapeutic benefit from your walk-in tub.

If you’ve found this article helpful in any way, please post a comment and pass the article along to friend’s family and co-workers.

Check out this short review and testimonial video on our tubs.

Tub King has many great reviews and guarantees the lowest prices. Check out TubKing.com for current specials, closeout and scratch and dent models as well. Call today to arrange a consultation with a bathtub professional from Tub King.

Get your free copy

Would you like to receive a free copy of our new ebook? - Tub King's Ultimate Guide to Cast Iron/Porcelain Tubs, Walk-in Tubs & Safety Suite Showers? Fill in the form below and we will send it to you for free! This book sell on Amazon for $4.99 but it’s yours for signing up to receive our quarterly newsletter. You can see this book on Amazon.com by clicking on this link.

Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or email listed at the end of this article and I will personally get back to you. It’s been my pleasure sharing this information with you.

Alan Knight is the owner of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville, Florida. He has many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub industries. In addition to providing superior products, Tub King has been honored with “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Awards” for four years running. If you would like to contact Alan Knight, call (800) 409-3375 or (800) 843-4231; or send an email to alan@tubking.com.

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