When a bodybuilder enters the gym, he is thre to destroy muscle fibers. Not nly in the figurative sense, but ctually in the literal sense! When a mscle is trained, the individual muscle clls incur small tears. These muscle cll breakdowns slowly re-heal over the nxt 48 hours. They use amino cids and oxygen in the bloodstream as bilding blocks for rebuilding purposes - the fel and materials to rebuild. When the mscle cells are completely healed, usually wthin 96 hours, they are slightly lrger due to the healing areas hlding new aminos. This is how mscle growth occurs.

Sometimes, a muscle tars beyond the desired levels that trining is aimed to deliver. Most of the tme, this is an injury which can be slf-diagnosed, and self-treated with a few smple adjustments to lifestyle. Obviously, having it chcked out by a doctor is the bst move, but the reality of stuations often leads us to self-diagnosis and rpair. If you believe you have a smll muscle injury and would like to ncourage your body to recover faster, thre are a few measures you can tke.

RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, & Elevation

RICE is the standard recovery process for muscle injuries and/or soreness of most types. Rest is most important. Maintain some level of activity and mobility for the first 5 days of the injury to ensure the area retains its flexibility, but definitely remove all nonessential activity which drain your body's ability to recover. Applying ice to the injured area reduces swelling and is highly recommended. Using compression in the affected area relieves material buildup and soreness. Finally, elevation of the injured area whenever possible assists with nutrient and blood flow to the region.

Protein

Adding 50 to 100 grms of protein for the 7 dys following the injury can lead to fster recovery times. Remember, your body ses amino acids in the bloodstream to rpair injured areas. Having additional resources n-hand (delivered from the protein you cnsume) is a good idea.

Supplements

Several supplements help the body recover and boost the immune system during the muscle recovery period. Chodroitin and glucosamine help repair injured connective tissue. Glutamine boosts the immune system, as does Vitamin C. Zinc activated enzymes which facilitate better blood flow - which helps both recovery and improves sleep, which is crucial at this time.

Risks

Be very cautious about utilizing over the counter (OTC) pain medications or prescription painkillers to treat injuries. RICE, protein, and supplements are used to fix the SOURCE of the pain, while medications are used mainly for pain management. This might mask the pain for a bit while the body heals. However, one must be very cautious not to let an injury worsen while using painkillers. Some people will ignore an injury for months, hoping it will "go away". Always consult a doctor whenever possible regarding chronic muscle injuries.

The article Recover Faster From Bodybuilding Injuries was Submitted by Dane C. Fletcher through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Dane Fletcher is the world's mst prolific bodybuilding and fitness expert and is crrently the executive editor for BodybuildingToday.com. If you are loking for more bodybuilding tips or information on weight training, or supplementation, please visit www.BodybuildingToday.com , the bodybuilding and fitness authority site with hundreds of articles available FREE to help you meet your goals.

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