Have you heard about championship skier Lindsey Vonn?
Lindsay Vonn has won 3 Olympic gold medals, and the list goes on! However, her victories didn’t come without sacrifice.
Throughout her career, the skier sustained fractures, concussions, tears, and more. After each injury, Lindsay would recover in record-breaking time, eager to hit the slopes.
As an athlete, you understand why Lindsay would push to recover quickly. Not being able to play your sport can be torturous. Luckily by taking CBD, you may be able to speed up your recovery time!
Read on to learn about CBD and injury recovery.
CBD Won’t Make Athletes High
Marijuana is full of naturally occurring chemical compounds called cannabinoids. CBD is 1 of these compounds, and so is THC.
THC is the chemical compound found in marijuana plants that helps users feel high. Once the THC activates your CB1 receptors, you’ll start to experience some type of high.
CBD, on the other hand, barely interacts with your CB1 receptors, it also doesn’t share any of the psychoactive properties THC has. Instead, CBD is effective at helping your body feel a sense of calm and relaxation, without inebriating you.
CBD and Injury Recovery
CBD and injury recovery go hand in hand because of CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties.
Here’s a list of different sports injuries and conditions CBD can help with:
- Sprains
- Strains
- Achilles tendonitis
Whether it’s an acute injury or a chronic one, the results are usually the same. First, you’ll feel pain, and next, your body will begin swelling. Body’s swell to help protect your body after an injury takes place.
The inflammatory response is the first step your body takes towards healing the injury. Your body hopes that by creating pain and swelling, the injured body part will be unmovable, and thus able to heal. However, sometimes our bodies can go a bit overboard, and the swelling is too extreme.
When inflammation lasts for too long, it can inhibit your body’s healing powers. Plus, chronic swelling can make your body’s tissues stiff, and more prone to future injuries. Luckily, by consistently taking the right dose of CBD, you can begin to lower your pain levels, while also reducing the inflammation.
Proper CBD Dosage
To enjoy the many benefits of CBD, you have to learn how to perfect your dosage. Everyone’s body responds slightly differently to CBD, so a dose that works for your friend, may not work for you.
Factors like age, weight, and gender will all affect how CBD interacts with your body. To find your perfect dosage amount, you’ll need to do a little bit of experimentation.
Start With a Low Dose
Start by taking an extremely low dose, and gradually increasing it over time. You should also start a CBD journal, to document your experience, as well as the health benefits you receive.
For instance, let’s say you buy CBD capsules. It’d be a good idea to start only taking 1 capsule a day. When you take the capsule, write down the time of day you took it. As the day goes on, jot down any symptoms you think you’re feeling from taking the CBD.
Continue taking 1 capsule for a few days, so you can get a feel for how the CBD is helping you. If you think you need more, increase your dosage to 2 CBD pills. You can repeat this process until you have the perfect dose to help with your injury.
Take It Easy
You can start noticing the positive effects of CBD on an injury, within a week or less of taking it. However, even though the inflammation and pain start disappearing, you should still baby the injured area.
Whenever there’s any amount of swelling present, it’s a sign that the injury is still there. Instead of rushing the healing process, continue taking it easy as you let the CBD work its magic. If you notice the swelling doesn’t go away, even after a few weeks, reach out to your doctor.
Benefits of CBD for Sore Muscles
Do you feel the burn? It doesn’t matter how fit you are, whenever you try a new exercise you can feel some level of muscle soreness. For some, the soreness is mild and doesn’t last for very long.
However, for others the discomfort is a lot more intense, making it difficult to maintain their workout schedule. By implementing CBD into your health routine, you can make the burn you feel less intense.
Why Muscles Get Sore
Delayed onset muscle soreness or DOMS, is the medical term for when your muscles hurt after exercising. You’re more likely to experience DOMS if you’re starting a new exercise plan.
However, even elite athletes can experience DOMS since it’s a form of muscle conditioning. Luckily, CBD has anti-inflammatory properties that can help lessen the discomfort, as your muscles rebuild. The more you continue to practice the same exercise, the faster your muscles will be able to recover from it.
Ways to Take CBD
There are tons of different consumption methods when it comes to taking CBD. Here’s a shortlist of the different type of CBD products:
- Capsules
- Pills
- Creams
- Edibles
- Vapes
CBD and injury recovery starts by finding a plan that works best for your body. While some people’s body responds especially well to CBD capsules, others find edibles to be more effective.
We’re especially fond of CBD lotions for athletes who have sore muscles or joints. After a long workout, you can massage the CBD infused lotion directly on the sore areas.
Not only can CBD infused lotions help with muscle soreness but they’re also great for assisting with all sorts of skin problems. You can find relief from conditions like eczema or acne, with the right CBD lotion.
Feel Like Yourself Again
We’re glad we could help you explore the benefits of CBD and injury recovery. Remember, don’t rush your recovery, and allow your body to fully heal.
Before you know it, you’ll be back to feeling 100%! For more ways to feel great, explore the rest of this site.