5 Tips For Soothing Aching Muscles After A Busy Shift
Aching muscles are extremely common after busy nursing shifts, especially long 12-hour shifts that keep you on your feet. Anthony Kouri, MD and orthopedic surgeon at the University of Toledo Medical Center, spends all day on his feet and treats people for various muscle aches several times a day. He believes one of the best ways to soothe aching muscles is to prevent them from happening in the first place.
Prevent muscle aches
"Muscle aches, or myalgias, are very common," explains Dr. Kouri. "The cause of this pain is often stress, tension or physical activity...a very common problem for anyone that's working for long periods of time. The best remedy is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. We should try to stay hydrated while working. This is especially important when we're busy and less likely to stop and eat or drink. Throughout the day, it's a good idea to stretch regularly. Ideally, a person should stretch a small amount every 60 minutes. However, when we find ourselves with aches and pain at the end of the day, there are several remedies you may find useful."