In SELF,  experts including Mathew Welch, MS, CSCS, ATC, USAW-1, exercise physiologist at HSS, explores whether stretching alleviates muscle soreness and aids recovery.

We’ve all been told stretching is a great way to keep your body loose and limber and ward off any potential achy tightness. But does doing it when you’re already hurting actually help you—or are there better ways to soothe the soreness instead? 

You can address tight or sore muscles with foam rolling or massage guns. In addition to boosting blood flow, this provides “some actual compression to the area to help, the same way a massage therapist would put their hands on you and apply some pressure to help provide a little bit of release,” Welch explained. These methods could also help with pain that results from fatigue due to weakness in the short term, but you’ll still want to strengthen those muscles to prevent it from returning, Welch said. 

Read the full article at self.com.