Muscle pain is a common issue, and almost everyone has experienced this at some point in their lives. The high rates of its occurrence are because our entire body contains muscle tissues, and a problem is bound to appear somewhere, sometime.

The most common regions of our body that experience muscle pain are the back, the neck, the legs, and the trapezius muscles. These muscle pains can cause immense discomfort and also hinder your daily lives if not treated properly.

Causes of sore muscles

Muscle pains and aches occur for several reasons. Some are:

• Stressful physical activity
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Emotional stress
• Hormonal changes
• Dehydration

And sometimes, sore muscles are also the result of:

• Fibromyalgia
• Use of statin drugs
• Symptoms of flu
• Lyme disease

Some ways for muscle pain relief
There are several ways by which you can get muscle pain relief. The most basic treatment that you can try is resting the affected area and avoid putting any stress on it. You can also lightly stretch the muscle in the area.

There are several other ways you can treat sore muscles on your own, some of which are listed down below:

• Magnesium
  Several doctors state that magnesium plays a vital role in reducing muscle pain. Magnesium helps increase the bone density. Some people who suffer from migraines are said to be magnesium deficient. Make sure that you eat foods that include magnesium to help with muscle pain relief. Some of these are nuts, beans, whole grains (brown rice and whole wheat), and green leafy vegetables.
  You can also get magnesium oils, which come in spray pump bottles. This helps target a particular area and helps in getting muscle pain relief.
• Potassium
  Potassium is an important mineral that helps in several bodily functions, including the proper functioning of muscles. If you’re experiencing sore muscles, then you might also be deficient in potassium.
  Include potassium in your diet to help reduce the pain from sore muscles. One of the best sources of potassium is dark leafy green vegetables, like spinach, which has about 800 mg of potassium per cup. Some other sources include bananas, avocados, potatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, fish, milk, and kidney beans.
• Calcium
  Calcium, along with magnesium, performs some of the most important bodily functions and helps your muscles and nerves to function properly. Calcium helps in contracting the muscles while magnesium is responsible for relaxing the muscles.
  Calcium gluconate is a natural painkiller that very few are aware of. It is hugely effective when injected into someone who is suffering from severe pain somewhere.
  You can also include calcium in your diet for muscle pain relief. One of the best sources of calcium is dairy. Milk, yogurt, cheese, etc. are all rich in calcium. Some other foods like leafy greens, legumes, seafood, dried figs, oranges, almonds, etc. are also rich in calcium.
• Water
  It is important that you drink plenty of water when you’re experiencing sore muscles. Water helps drain the toxins from your body and also prevents dehydration. Dehydration is linked to more painful muscle cramps so make sure that you’re consuming more water than what is sufficient.
• Heat and cold
  A warm bath is always soothing when you have sore muscles. It relieves the tension built up in the muscles because of overuse.
  However, when it comes to inflammation or bruising, an ice pack can do wonders. Apply an ice pack on the affected area for about 20 minutes to relieve yourself from muscle pain.
• Apple cider vinegar
  This is a solution that has not just one but several benefits for the body. It is great for detoxification of the body and helps with acid reflux, weight loss, lowering blood pressure, and also help with diabetes.
  Another great benefit of using apple cider vinegar is that it helps with sore muscles. You can either mix a tablespoon in water or just ingest it directly like a shot. You can also rub some of the vinegar directly on the affected area, and it will still do wonders.
• Coconut oil
  Coconut oil, similar to apple cider vinegar, is recommended to cure several types of ailments. Including coconut oil in your diet helps strengthen your immune system and also reduce inflammation, which is the main reason behind muscle pain. You can also massage coconut oil on the affected area and then follow this with a warm bath. This will improve the blood circulation, and the muscles will also loosen up, causing muscle pain relief.

Use these methods to relieve yourself from muscle cramps. In case they don’t prove to be as effective, consult with a doctor for a solution.