The fitness industry is vast, with new workout routines and supplements appearing daily. With CBD’s recent appearance in gym bags around the U.S., an increasing number of people are curious about its effects as a fitness supplement. Just last year, the NFL awarded $1 million towards research on cannabinoids for pain management and neuroprotection from concussions.

If the NFL is curious about the connection between cannabis-derived products and pre- and post-workout recovery, then we surely should be too! Whether you’re a professional athlete or you’re starting the gym for the first time, CBD has the potential to improve your routine. Let’s take a look at how.

CBD Before Workout

As many experienced athletes or gym-goers know, the pre-workout routine is just as important as the recovery. Check out these 3 ways that CBD may help you before your next workout:

CBD Helps You Get a Better Night’s Sleep

Sleep affects so many different aspects of a person’s day, including their workout. Without adequate sleep, a person may have reduced muscle strength during their workout (not to mention that it could sway them to skip the gym altogether). Even more, sleep allows muscle tissue to recover between workouts, essentially preparing you for your next trip to the gym.

CBD Reduces Anxiety and Stress

What does stress have to do with working out? Well, a lot in the world of athletes. Both your mind and body need to prepare for your game or workout. Anxiety can increase muscle tension, affect coordination, and even cause nausea or sweating. A person may have anxiety before an important game, or they may just be nervous about starting a new routine at the gym. Whatever the reason, CBD helps you go into a workout with a clear mind.

CBD Helps Minimize Symptoms of Various Conditions

If you follow our blog, you know that we explore various CBD-related topics, such as its potential to relieve the symptoms of different conditions. While these conditions may not make it impossible to partake in exercise, they may make it uncomfortable or influence a person to stay at home. For instance, arthritis is a condition that causes joint pain, stiffness, and muscle aches. CBD’s potential to relieve these symptoms means that it could also indirectly help a person improve their fitness journey.

CBD may also help relieve stomach pain, sore throat, gastritis, and other conditions that may cause a person to skip the gym. 

CBD After Workout

And as many of us know, post-workout recovery is crucial. While muscle soreness is expected after a session at the gym, there are ways that CBD can minimize the soreness, help you recover faster, and ultimately help you be more prepared for your next gym visit.

CBD Helps Relieve Muscle Soreness

The muscle pain that begins after you’ve worked out, known as delayed-onset muscle soreness, usually occurs a day or two after your last gym session. These aches, as a result, could prevent a person from performing at their maximum capacity. CBD, which is recognized for its natural pain-relieving and anti-inflammation properties, can help relieve muscle soreness.

A recent study addresses this, stating that:

The results of this study indicate that CBD oil can have a significant influence on delayed onset of muscle soreness due to exercise induced muscle damage. Although the exact mechanism(s) of how delayed onset of muscle soreness is influenced by CBD has not been definitively determined, CBD oil appears to be a useful treatment for exercise induced muscle damage.

CBD May Help You Recover From Injuries

Injuries are a part of being an athlete, and although some never face sports-related injuries, others are unavoidable. While a treatment plan is necessary, CBD can assist in recovery by helping reduce pain and inflammation, two things that are very common in sports injuries. Whether a person is recovering from a sprain or another injury that’s stopping them from working out, CBD may help them reduce discomfort.

In fact, CBD may be helpful in pre- and post-surgery recovery, even those that are not related to sports. 

Takeaway

CBD shows great potential for improving an athlete’s performance. By offering both pre- and post-workout benefits, it covers a range of hurdles that athletes and physically active people face.

For the best outcome, it’s crucial that individuals choose a high-quality product to ensure it’s free of contaminants. At Vitality, all of our products are tested by a third party so that every level of athlete can reap the benefits. If you’re ready to improve your workout routine and results, check out our CBD oil and our CBD salves for chronic pain, relaxation, and tension. Each of them is infused with oils from other organic plants that have unique properties for helping you with each condition.