CBD usage in sports is ever increasing. There is worldwide recognition of the potential benefits of CBD for athletes and mounting acceptance in the sports world. Famous sportsmen and athletes like Lamar Odom, Megan Rapinoe and Rob Gronkowski are endorsing the regular use of CBD.
While CBD may help with calm pre-game jitters and performance anxiety, the question is: does CBD help athletes relax after a game? Read on to find out.
CBD in Sports
The World Anti- Doping Agency (WADA) removed CBD from its list of banned substances for professional athletes in 2018. This has prompted many athletes to highlight the benefits of CBD as an anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety and athletic recovery aid.
Athletes and professional sportsmen like soccer players need to relax and recover quickly in between games. The tournaments take a huge toll on the mental and physical health of the athletes, as the pace of the games is unrelenting. Not only do they need to be physically strong and recover from injuries they might sustain if they push themselves too hard; they also need to be in the right mental state to perform well.
Before any big game, sportsmen need to get hyped up. Soccer players especially take caffeine and energy drinks to stimulate their nervous system. They also undergo high-intensity warm-ups to reduce any premature fatigue before the game. They must do everything they can to ensure that their energy levels are optimal from that first whistle until the last whistle.
But what about after they are done playing? How do they unwind? Does CBD help athletes relax after a game?
The simple answer is yes it does. A lot.
CBD For Athletes Helps relieve Pain:
Many athletes and sportsmen like soccer players often find themselves sustaining small injuries on the field. They also suffer from sore muscles after a hectic game. CBD for athletes helps soothe these muscle and joint aches. A cannabinoid itself, CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the human body that modulates the functions of the endocrine, brain, and immune tissues.
CBD affects the concentration of adenosine, a neurotransmitter in the brain. It inhibits the sensation of pain and helps improve the athlete’s comfort and dexterity. CBD also provides a safe alternative to opioid painkillers and NSAIDs. The body cannot handle powerful painkillers all the time. They have a lot of side effects; indigestion, stomach aches and heartburn being the most common.
Moreover, they also pose the risk of addiction. Many athletes have reported addiction to painkillers to provide relief after hectic games. CBD oils and capsules do not pose any addiction risks. Besides, the topical application of CBD balms on aching muscles can also help provide quick pain relief.
CBD For Athletes Helps Relieve Inflammation
Athletes usually perform at high-level several days a week. During a game or tournament, where the stress level is an all-time high, athletes push themselves to their limits. This type of exertion can cause inflammation of the muscles. If left untreated, it can cause pain, depression, and mobility issues.
Inflammation can also slow down the recovery time and make it more difficult for the body to heal. This can pose a problem for athletes and professions sports players who usually have back-to-back games in a tournament. They need to be fit for their next match and can’t afford to take time off due to any swelling or inflammation resulting from sore muscles or injuries.
CBD for athletes helps them relax after a game. It has strong anti-inflammatory properties that work by targeting specific receptors in the brain and decreasing the number of inflammatory mediators in the body.
CBD can be applied topically in the form of massage balms and lotions or can be ingested in the form of capsules. Both have similar anti-inflammatory effects that can help relax the players before their next game.
CBD for Athletes Increases Muscle Relaxation
After a gruelling performance, athletes need to relax and unwind. However, the excess lactate in the muscles produced during the intense physical performance can lead to muscle spasms and cramps. CBD is seen to have muscle relaxant properties. It can help the athlete’s body handle the excess lactate CBD calms the mind by working on certain neurotransmitters of the brain. It is thus able to relieve these symptoms.
CBD also speeds up muscle recovery, especially in the forms of lotions and ointments applied on the affected areas topically.
CBD for Athletes Aids Sleep
After a game, emotions can be high and it can prove difficult to calm down, however, many athletes may have another game or have to take long interviews shortly after. All this excitement can make it difficult to relax and go to sleep. And the importance of good, restful sleep for an athlete cannot be stressed enough!
When a person sleeps, the body produces melatonin and other human growth hormones which are essential for muscle recovery and repair. If an athlete doesn’t get proper sleep, then the muscles are not given sufficient time to recuperate. This can result in fatigue and stiff muscles, leading to the poor overall form.
CBD helps promote a sense of calm. When athletes feel calm and relaxed, they tend to sleep better and benefit from faster muscle recovery. CBD can thus be beneficial for athletes to stay at the top of their game.
Conclusion
As you must have gauged by now, CBD for athletes is quite beneficial. It is no wonder that so many prominent athletes and sportspeople are promoting it. It can truly help the athletes relax after a tiring game, without any psychoactive effects.
