Exercise is an important activity. Not only does it help you manage your weight, but it also protects you against diseases. However, injuries that come with exercising are sometimes inevitable. Our previous article on recovering from post-injuries at home revealed that there were over 55.4 million injuries in the United States in 2020 alone. These injuries include cuts, abrasions, sprains, and muscle strain, which require proper rest and treatment to heal. Properly recovering from an injury is vital: doing so gives your body the time to recuperate after exerting yourself physically. Luckily, there are exercise tools designed to support workout recovery and expedite the healing process of physical injuries or soreness.
If you've recently sustained an exercise-related injury and are interested in streamlining the process, here are four pieces of equipment that can help speed up your exercise recovery.
Foam Rollers
First on the list is foam rollers, lightweight cylinders you can use to self-administer a deep tissue massage. You can relieve muscle tightness, soreness, and inflammation by simply balancing on top of the roller and placing adequate pressure on your desired muscle group. Depending on your needs, foam rollers can have varying densities. For instance, the TriggerPoint Grid 1.0 foam roller is popular for its multi-density surface, which provides a reliable firm compression to target muscle knots. Besides easing tight muscles, foam rollers can also increase your range of motion and boost blood circulation, making it a valuable post-workout tool for the average price of $36.
Standing Desks
If you've been immobile for a while and are ready to start moving your body, you can actively promote muscle recovery with standing desks. Instead of sitting at a desk, which cuts off blood flow to your lower body, standing encourages free circulation throughout your legs, reducing blood pressure build-up and boosting healing. The Varidesk Pro Plus 36 is an excellent standing desk converter because it offers a spacious work surface, allowing you to set up two huge monitors and keep other essential desk materials. It's also easy to adjust thanks to a unique rowing-lift raising mechanism that provides 11 preset adjustable height settings, making them adaptable to users of any height. With a price point of $425, it's a sound investment that can ensure seamless injury recovery.
Massage Chair Pads
Sitting down can also support exercise recovery, especially if you have the right equipment. Since massage chair pads have compression and vibration features, they can help loosen your stiffened muscles and induce relaxation. One effective model is the Renpho Shiatsu Neck & Back Seat Massage Chair. This comes with three intensity levels that can provide a shiatsu massage to your neck, shoulders, and back. The massager also lets you target specific muscle areas if you feel extreme discomfort in other parts of your body. Since the shiatsu massage is designed to relieve tension and fatigue, it's great for injury recovery. And because the massage pad is portable and fits most chairs, you can use them almost anywhere. If you're interested, massage chair pads are available for around $160.
Massage Guns
Last on the list are massage guns, which is a portable handheld device that looks similar to a power drill. When you use this equipment, the attachments vibrate or “percuss” at a high frequency and low amplitude of movement, allowing you to alleviate muscle soreness and tension. The massage guns we offer at Ekrin Athletics, including the Ekrin 365 (voted one of the best on the market by Massage Gun Advice) are great for everyday use. Besides being lightweight, they have four interchangeable attachments and control speeds ranging between 2000-3200 RPM. Lastly, their unique Reactive Force Sensor feature lets you have precise control over your treatment since it displays the amount of pressure applied to your massage. With only $179.99, you can attain quicker exercise recovery and even improve your overall physical health.