What should I do if I have thigh pain while running?

Running is one of the most common sports. Although everyone thinks they can run, there are actually certain methods to running. If you don't run the right way, you'll experience leg pain and muscle damage. Therefore, you should pay attention to the method when running, and also take certain care after running. So let us introduce some methods to relieve leg pain after running.

1. Ice water bath

Some long-distance runners use ice baths to reduce muscle soreness. An ice bath is a bath in cold water with ice cubes added, which can effectively reduce inflammation and soreness because an ice bath is more effective than an ice pack and freezes the entire body at once rather than just a part of it. If you don't have access to an ice bath, you can try applying an ice pack to the sore joint.

2. Eating after exercise

After a long run or intense workout, don't wait too long to eat. Studies show that muscles are most susceptible to repairing glycogen, or stored glucose, within 30 minutes after exercise. If you eat shortly after working out, you can minimize muscle stiffness or soreness. According to scientific research, the most appropriate food intake should be foods containing 1 gram of protein to 3 grams of carbohydrates.

3. Stay hydrated

Make sure you stay hydrated after your run, especially in the summer. Drinking water after running is enough to replenish the water lost by the body. However, professional athletes prefer to drink beverages that help the body recover, such as chocolate milk, coconut water, etc. Ordinary people can judge whether they have enough water by looking at their urine. If the urine is dark yellow, it means they need to continue drinking water. The normal color should be light lemon yellow.

If you experience body pain for more than a week after running and self-care such as rest, ice packs, massage, etc. cannot help, or if you experience other symptoms after running that you cannot explain, you should seek medical attention immediately.

The above article introduces some care methods for thigh pain, because leg muscle strains need timely care, otherwise it may cause permanent damage. Therefore, before running, you should first understand the correct way to run. You need to relax your leg muscles before and after running. In order to avoid muscles becoming too tense after running for a long time, they need care and relief.