Fitness, Health and Wellness

After a long hike or a workout at the gym your calves will ache, and you can dream of is a relaxing calf muscle massage. You can either do it yourself or enlist the services of an expert masseuse, but there is a more effective and hassle-free option  available called calf massagers.  Want to know more? Learn more about how Spryng can help you! Subscribe for the latest updates and get 10% OFF. Why do calves ache after exertion?  Muscles  consists of fiber that contract and release on command. When muscles work strenuously, micro-tears appear in fibers. The body responds by rebuilding  fibers that are stronger and denser, this enabling the muscles to adapt to more demanding exercises. This is how bodybuilders train to gain muscle mass.   The healing process takes some time to rebuild the torn fibers, resulting in sore muscles   How to improve circulation in calves and treat inflamed calf muscles  It requires more pressure to pump blood to peripheral body parts from the heart. Being the furthest from the heart, the lower part of the legs is often prone to health issues  - such as infections and swelling.  Even though the heart is the primary organ that pumps blood, calf muscles act as a secondary pump to support blood flow  via the veins in the legs. The blood flowing back to the heart is the most energy-consuming effort because the heart needs to work against the gravitational pull. To reduce the backflow, the veins in the legs have evolved a valve system that only opens up to the blood flow towards the heart. Therefore, when the calf muscles contract, they squeeze the veins and pump the blood upwards.   Due to an injury or overuse, calf muscles could get inflamed and swollen, thereby reducing mobility. The result is constricted veins and reduced blood flow that ends up causing swollen and painful lower parts of the legs.  What can you do to speed up the recovery process?  Keeping the affected muscles at rest is key.  Reduce inflammation by applying a hot or old compress before massaging. Read further about muscle recovery treatments including the best way to massage calf muscle in this article.  The most hassle-free and efficient way to recover sore calf muscles is using an active compression device.  How does active compression work?  Active compression stimulates muscles into replicating their natural contraction and release mechanism using external pneumatic pressure. This process pumps blood to the heart and reduces swelling of the limbs by gradually decreasing intramuscular space. Active compression also effectively disperse lactic acid, a byproduct of anaerobic respiration of the muscles, minimizing chances of cramps.  The gentle and rhythmic massaging  of the tissues increases blood flow and improves oxygenation which drastically helps  injured muscles to heal faster.  Active compression is not just a theoretical concept, many devices utilize the concept to provide the most efficient relief from muscle pain and to improve blood circulation in legs.  3 factors to consider before buying a muscle recovery tool  Portability and size: Always look for a muscle recovery tool that is travel-sized, and which can be used uninterrupted while multitasking. Won’t it be more productive having a tool that could be used while you work at your computer or watching TV?  Features: Muscle recovery tools come with many features. Research on these features and how it can elevate your tool and increase performance.  Budget: Price doesn't always equal with quality. There are many alternative tools like SPRYNG that offer good features at an affordable rate.  What is the best foot and calf massager?  SPRYNG is a patent-pending, research-backed, innovative muscle recovery tool. It has unique features that stand out from its competitors as the best calf massager.  SPRYNG combines three distinctive compression techniques - pulsing compression, gradients, and distal release to mimic your calf muscle. SPRYNG can alleviate muscle pain in 15 minutes.  SPRYNG is untethered; After an exhausting workout you don’t want to spend the rest of the day at a leg massager machine, you’d rather go watch TV or read a book. This wireless device can be used anywhere and at any time.  SPRYNG is compact and portable.   It’s affordable!  

Basketball is one of the much-loved sports in the United States, starting from its humble beginnings from Massachusetts United States, the sport is now played professionally throughout the world. All thanks to the NBA’s success at promoting the sport.  Basketball is an endurance and velocity driven team sport; it is paramount to each team’s success that all players play their best game at every game and throughout the game.   Want to know more? Learn more about how Spryng can help you! Subscribe for the latest updates and get 10% OFF. Basketball is a dynamic sport which engages the whole body. It is influenced by multiple techniques, quick reaction time, coordination, game IQ, power, shooting abilities, passing skills and more.   This basketball training guide will help an athlete improve basketball skills. It includes workouts to improve basketball performance and exercises for basketball players to reach the pinnacle of their game.    Improve basketball shooting   Shooting skills serve as the core foundation of basketball and through hard work and dedication you will reach your intended results. Use these basic steps to improve your basketball shot. Firstly, focus on the mechanism of your shot. Keep your eyes on the target, pay attention to your stance, focus on your basketball grip and try to send the ball sailing towards its target. Cuttino Mobley – Former Houston Rockets, L.A. Clippers guard advice is that one should “Tuck your elbow and line it up with your knee, and don’t shoot at the rim, shoot up over it. Reach up, go inside the basket with your release, and follow through with your index and middle fingers”.   How to improve quickness in basketball?    Basketball is a fast-paced game therefore speed and agility are just as important as shooting accurately. Endurance and passing skills are vital to quicken the pace of the game. This can be achieved through regular endurance training and practising quickness drills for basketball. Part of your quickness drills would be improving your passing skills. Teams that are good at passing enjoy easy baskets and have an easier time playing offense. This is because the players can move the ball quickly and frequently until an opening is found. Once the player has the ball in his grasp, he will need to either pass it a teammate or dribble the ball up and down the court. This is where dribbling exercises would come in handy.   Basketball leg work out   Leg workouts are essential to your basketball workout. Basketball players will be required to do many sets of leg presses and calf raises to improve leg muscle strength required to run up and down the court. Adding ladder drills for basketball should also be a useful piece of your training arsenal. This helps improve hand -eye coordination while working on your calf muscles at the same time.   Improve basketball IQ  Basketball IQ is an important talent for every player to have. It comes with the ability to anticipate moves 3 times ahead and know the strengths and weakness of not only his own team but of your opponents like the back of one’s hand. One method you can use is watch and learn. Watch the best players in action and try pick up queues to their reactions to situations. For an example, what offense are they running to or what defence are they running from. To quote one of basketballs legends “"Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." --Michael Jordan.   Why do my legs hurt when I play basketball?   After following the rigorous training routines mentioned above players may experience sore legs after basketball training.  The leg pain after basketball can be attributed to the intense strain focussed on the legs during training or during the game. During training your calf muscles are strained after many sets of leg presses, and calf raises. This leads to calf pain after basketball and will lead to swelling legs.   How to recover after basketball?  There are many tried and tested methods to relieve leg pain for basketball leg recovery.   Hydrate  Regular hydration like drinking water after exercise can help reduce pain. Water plays a pivotal role in muscle repair and the production of glycogen. Studies have proven that muscle rejuvenation progress is decelerated by half when muscles are not suitably hydrated. Players can even drink energy drinks during game time to give them that additional burst of energy.   Cold compression for legs  Applying an ice pack can relieve pain, ease swelling and inflammation of the sore muscles. Some elite athletes even employ an ice bath to reduce inflammation after a game.    Leg compression therapy The most modern and easy to use device, for basketball leg recovery to ease pain and swelling is SPRYNG, a calf compression wrap. SPRYNG has also been scientifically proven and has been enjoyed by over 10,000 happy customers.   It uses active compression technology to improve circulation and flush out lactic acid, thereby alleviating pain. SPRYNG has many advantages when compared to other active compression and leg compression devices in the market. A few of them are -  Quick recovery- It takes only 15 minutes to produce results  Embrace freedom - It is lightweight, portable, and untethered so it fits nicely in your gym bag.   Extremely affordable –it is cheaper than any other active compression device on the market.  Looks great- It is available in a range of colours to suit your mood or wardrobe.  Convenience- Place your order now via our website and become eligible for free delivery to your doorstep.  Buy now and pay later with our easy instalment settlement options.    References https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/basketball-training-guide-complete-athlete-brett-kuehn/  https://www.highettpodiatry.com.au/the-foot-blog/3-tips-to-improve-your-basketball-performance  https://www.mensjournal.com/sports/basketball-training-guide/  https://www.usab.com/youth/news/2010/12/7tips-to-improve-your-shooting-mechanics.aspx     

Muscles contract and release to make body parts move. Muscle knots are small areas of muscle that are tight and tender to touch even when at rest. These muscle knots could cause pain in the other parts of the body when pressure is applied . They are also called trigger points.  Want to know more? Learn more about how Spryng can help you! Subscribe for the latest updates and get 10% OFF. What are muscle knots?  A sedentary lifestyle - most of the time sitting at work, lack of sufficient amount of exercise and activities - is a major cause of muscle knots. Poor body posture is also a contributing factor; Muscle knots in the back below shoulders are often caused by improper posture when working at a computer. Also, muscle overuse and injuries cause muscle knots, this is the most common reason athletes develop muscle knots.  There are indirect conditions that aggravate muscle knots such as anxiety and stress, dehydration, and unhealthy eating habits.  What causes muscle knots in calves? Any activity that requires a lot of leg movement such as walking, running, dancing, and exercising exert pressure on the calf muscles. A healthy amount of activity with periods in between to rest and repair muscle fibers is essential to maintain proper muscle tone and health. But overusing is injurious; for example, while on a long walk or run, calf muscles could get cramps and over time knots could develop in the fibers.  It’s always advised to warm up before demanding physical activity and once done, let the body be back to the resting state gradually.  How to treat muscle knots?  There are simple and effective muscle knots treatments. Understanding the possible causes and fixing them is the first step. Initially identifying poor posture while sitting, working at a table, or walking would be hard to recognize and fix, without professional help. With the help of an expert, you’ll be able to correct your posture faster. Stretching exercises, Yoga, Pilates, and the posture correction techniques like Alexander Technique will help. If you are overusing muscles, it’s time to add enough recovery time to your routine and learn how to warm up and stretch.   Recovery from muscle knots takes time. Calf knot release treatments are focused on breaking up tensed and contracted muscle knots and reducing inflammation around the area.   Rest  Take a break from the activities that caused the knots in the first place and try to avoid postures and movements that induce discomfort or pain in the area to let the inflammation subside. Sleep and Rest longer than usual with pillows supporting the joints to minimize strain on the muscles.   Stretch  Stretching exercises will improve blood circulation and speed up the recovery process. Be gentle with yourself, stop immediately if the inflamed muscles begin to hurt. Follow the below steps to perform a simple stretching exercise for calves.  Stand facing a wall one foot in front of the other, front knee slightly bent.  Keep the back leg straight and heel flat on the floor and lean towards the wall.   Now you’ll feel the stretch along the calf of the back leg.  Hold the stretch for 20-30 seconds.  Switch legs and repeat the routine 3 times.  How to get rid of a calf knot with hot or Cold therapy   Applying heat or cold on the affected area helps with the pain and controls the inflammation.   Blood vessels constrict in low temperatures and reduce swelling. Apply a cold compress for 10 minutes, remove it for 15 minutes, and repeat the procedure until the discomfort subsides.  Heat loosens up stiff fibers in muscles and increases blood circulation. Use a heating pad or warm bath to promote healing the muscle knots.  Use a muscle rub  A rub with Menthol, Capsisin, or Camphor will soften and relax the muscles. People with sensitive skin could show reactions to certain formulas. So do a reaction test first; apply a small amount on the skin and see if there are any reactions such as irritability, rashes on the skin.   Once applied gently massage the area until the pain is relieved.   Trigger point pressure release  A practitioner will apply pressure on the trigger points of the knots and massage to break up the stiffness and to release the tension in the area.  Calf Knot Massage therapy  Massage therapy improves blood flow and relaxes the muscles. You can either do a simple self-massage or get help from a massage therapist. If the condition of the knots is severe it’s always best to consult an experienced practitioner.  Use muscle recovery tools  If you are prone to frequent sore muscles due to vigorous activities like sports or if your muscles are weakened due to inactivity, it’s better to keep a muscle recovery tool with you.   Do you know that 90% of the returning blood flow to the heart comes from the veins of your calves? Overusing of muscles and a sedentary lifestyle both alike decrease the strength of calf muscles and reduce the effectiveness of moving blood. This could lead to swelling of legs, sore muscles, muscle knots, and pain. An active compressor tool is best to support the calf muscles to recover and improve blood flow.  There are many active compressors in the market, like our muscle recovery tool called SPRYNG is recommended for its efficiency and effectiveness.  Why is SPRYNG the most beneficial?  This active compressor tool is an innovative introduction to muscle recovery tools and stands out for its unique technology.  SPRYNG is untethered; you can avoid the hassle of spending time at a big cumbersome machine with this wireless, portable and compact design. The price of this device is a fraction of the other devices in the market, and extremely efficient in that it requires only 15 minutes to get results.           

As the freezing temperatures of winter draws to a gradual closure, and the weather warms up a fraction, the hiking season begins. Exploring the great outdoors on the fringes of winter is always a treat, as the forests come alive and begin to sprout their foliage.   When hiking, no matter the distance, being long hours on your feet on rough, uneven terrain takes a toll on your feet, calf muscles, hamstrings, and glutes, this results in calf pain after hiking. This pain is caused by a build up of lactic acid in your legs due to a lack of blood circulation.   Want to know more? Learn more about how Spryng can help you! Subscribe for the latest updates and get 10% OFF. Even if you are a veteran backpacker or novice day tripper, it’s good to warm up before any physical activity. On the same note it’s just as important to gradually cool down after any physical exercise to avoid sore legs after hiking. However, the common question remains “how to relieve sore muscles after hiking” and thankfully there are a couple of time-tested remedies out there.   Here are a few tips for post hiking recovery    Post hiking stretches  As we already know stretching and cooling down after physical activity is an important aspect of your hiking recovery plan, one may wonder, of the plethora of stretching routines available to stretch leg muscles which one or which ones do you pick for your post hike recovery. A few well targeted stretches for sore legs are a great start:  Our legs consists of a complex band of muscles. Therefore, one is required to complete a range of stretches to target each of these muscle groups to avoid injury and aid post hiking recovery.   Calf Stretch- Our calves play a pivotal role when performing unremitting activities such as running and walking on uneven terrain. Our calves become tight from bearing our weight and requires adequate stretching prior and post hiking.   Hamstrings Stretch- Our hamstrings consist of 3 muscles at the back of your thigh which are prone to tightening.  Glutes Stretch- The Glutes are the largest muscle in your body located near your buttocks area and are responsible to generating lots of power for activities like walking and even sitting.   Staying hydrated   Staying hydrated throughout your hike will help you fend off dehydration and aid in recovery long after a hike. One is at a greater risk of dehydration especially when hiking at higher altitudes or colder weather. The body tends to dehydrate faster due to the dry air or during colder weather.  But how much water would you require? This depends on the individual and their existing fitness and health conditions. In addition to staying hydrated during your hike, as a general rule hikers should drink a minimum of 2 cups of water immediately to aid in post hiking recovery.  Water plays a pivotal role in muscle repair and the production of glycogen. Studies have proven that muscle rejuvenation progress is decelerated by half when muscles are not suitably hydrated. So, there cannot be a better time to reach for that bottle, for a quick recovery after hiking.   Cold compression treatment   After a long hike cold compression treatment can aid your journey to post hike recovery. This home remedy dates back ages, to reduce painful leg muscles, applying cold compression for leg pain, can reduce inflammation of the muscles thus reducing pain and swelling. Cold compression for leg pain can be applied in the form of over the cover ice packs or cold baths. However, this method of treatment can often be an inconvenience when out in the wilderness.   Using a Calf Compression Wrap (SPRYNG)   In today's context there are more advanced and easier to use, scientifically proven devices used by enthusiastic hikers and professional athletes. One of which is SPRYNG, a calf compression wrap.     SPRYNG is the worlds most advanced muscle recovery tool. It uses active compression technology to improve circulation and flush out lactic acid, thereby alleviating pain. SPRYNG has many advantages when compared to other active compression devices in the market. A few of them are -   Quick recovery- It needs only 15 minutes to produce results   Embrace freedom - It is lightweight, portable, and untethered.    Extremely affordable –it is cheaper than any other active compression device on the market.   Looks great- It is available in a range of colours to suit your mood or wardrobe.   Convenience- If you place your order now you become eligible for delivery to your doorstep.   Buy now and pay later with our free instalment settlement options.      References; https://www.kathmanduoutdoor.com/tips-for-post-hike-recovery  https://www.healthline.com/health/exercise-fitness/how-to-stretch-glutes  https://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/leg#lower-leg   

Ballet dancing is an art form. It's a performance of musical and creative expression. Ballet requires dedication, practice, and physical strength. For ballet dancers, legs training workouts are essential to ensure their best performances.   There are specialized ballet workouts aimed at strengthening the muscle groups required for dancing, and they are important exercises for the ballerinas to prevent injuries and reach optimal conditions necessary for dancing.  Want to know more? Learn more about how Spryng can help you! Subscribe for the latest updates and get 10% OFF. Strength training exercises for ballet dancers  As one of the most gruelling forms of dance that requires graceful movements, flexibility, a strong core and emphasis on leg strength, the following exercises performed consistently would make a big difference in a ballet dancer's life.  1. Leg raises  Leg lifts and leg raises are popular among dancers, and they can be done while lying on your back. Raise each leg while tightening your abs and making sure to keep the leg straight. Not only are these exercises great calf stretches for dancers, but they also help you achieve those lean and elongated ballerina calves you long for.  Leg raises can even be performed while standing as you support yourself against a ballet barre and lift one leg high up. These helpful ballet calf exercises allow you to stretch out and extend your leg muscles and help to increase balance and flexibility.  2. Squats  Squats are an essential ballet leg workout as they work the front and back legs and help to improve ankle mobility. Simply stand with your feet placed parallel to each other and slightly apart from your hip distance. You may extend your arms in front of you, place them on your hips or overhead.   While keeping your torso straight, push your hips back and bend into your knees until your knees are at a 90-degree angle. Conduct slow and controlled reps and hold the bottom of the squat for about 15 seconds. Repeat as desired. You may start incorporating small weights if you aim to build more strength.   3. Lunges  If you're wondering how to get strong legs for dancing, lunges are great workouts to engage in. They are fantastic ballet leg strengthening exercises as they help to strengthen quads and hamstrings. You may perform stationary lunges or conduct walking lunges based on your preference.  As you take a big step forward, bend into both knees, forming 90-degree angles on each. You may place your hand on your hips or extend them over your head. Return to the starting position and repeat with the other foot in front of you.  4. Wall-sits  This workout is simple and effective in strengthening the lower half of your body. All it requires is a wall to practice against! Simply sit against the wall while placing your legs evenly at 90-degree angles. Hold the position for a few minutes, and you'll feel the burn in your muscles.  This is a fantastic exercise for muscle conditioning for dancers as it helps strengthen muscles and increase endurance.  5. Abdominal workouts  Strengthening the core is especially important to all dancers as essentially all your arm and leg movements originate from your core. The strength of your core determines the power and grace you can incorporate into your movements. And it allows the dancers to maintain their posture as they perform, which is a must-have for all ballet dancers.   Planking, side plank leg lifts and lower abdominal hip lifts are some of the most convenient ab workouts for ballet dancers to engage in regularly.  How to recover fast after ballet workouts?  Do your legs hurt after dancing? Are you wondering why your calves hurt after dancing? Minor aches and pains are common for those who dance and train regularly. With proper dance recovery routines and techniques, you can eliminate those aches and pains and ensure your next training session won't be impacted by it.  Below are a few tips to help you alleviate the pain in your calves and legs and achieve a faster recovery:  1. Use a foam roller  Foam rollers are excellent muscle recovery tools that help you roll out those knots after a strenuous workout. Ideally, it would help to incorporate the foam roller into your warm-down stretches after a workout routine.  2. Stretch  Stretching out your tight muscles is one of the most effective ways to alleviate leg pain that follows a workout. It helps to release the excess lactic acids built up from your activities and alleviate the pain.  3. Calf compression wrap  If you're searching for the best recovery massage tool in the market, SPRYNG calf muscle recovery tool is one that you should grab. It provides active massage compression that promotes oxygenated blood flow to your legs, helping alleviate pain and soreness in your leg muscles fast.  To read more about easy exercises for dancers to stay fit, visit here.   

Whether you want to tone your body, lose a few inches around your waist or achieve that long-desired six-pack, ab workouts for women are fantastic means of strengthening your core and getting in shape. And the best part is that they don't require excessive gym equipment, as most can be done within the comforts of your home.  While there are many core strengthening exercises you may engage in, we have selected the 5 best core exercises for women that you can incorporate into your next workout.  Want to know more? Learn more about how Spryng can help you! Subscribe for the latest updates and get 10% OFF. Best core strengthening exercises to try out:  1. Hip lifts  Lie down on your back, raise your legs, and hold them perpendicular to your torso. Keep your arms by your sides as you raise your hips and lift them a few inches off the floor. Hold it for a few seconds before lowering them to the ground. Keep repeating and try to do each rep without letting your hips fully touch down on the floor for a more intense workout.  2. Flutter kicks  Flutter kicks and workouts are great for your core. Just lie on your back and tighten your ab muscles. Raise your legs, keeping them straight and above the level of your hips. Leave your arms straight in line with the floor. With your toes pointed forward, start lowering one leg and bring it back up as you lower the other. Continue the movement of kicking while keeping your core engaged.   3. Leg lifts  Leg raise ab workouts are some of the best exercises for your ab and leg muscles. Lie on your back and hold your core muscles tight. Lift your legs about one foot off the ground until you feel your core engaged. Bring them back down and repeat the movement without letting your ankles touch the floor at each rep.   Do side leg lifts by turning on your side and lifting one leg at a time to engage the sides of your core. 4. Bicycle crunches  Go a step further from your average double ab crunches to incorporate bicycle crunches. While lying flat on the floor with your legs stretched in front and hands behind your head, lift your shoulder blades off the ground and bring in your right knee towards your chest and have your left elbow meet the knee. Switch sides to engage the left knee and right elbow in the same movement and keep alternating. Make sure not to push your neck forward with your hands as the force should be generated from your abs. 5. Mountain climbers  Get on a plank position with your arms straight and place your wrists directly beneath your shoulders. Alternatively, bring each knee to your chest and back out as you speed up the rotation keeping your glutes engaged.  How to recover from ab workouts:  It's a must to conduct adequate muscle recovery after a workout, as you're sure to experience some level of pain and soreness all over your body after an engaging ab workout session.   Perhaps you're wondering why your legs hurt after doing abs workouts. What's interesting is that most core exercises engage other parts of your body's muscle group, and as such, you may experience soreness in areas aside from your abs.   Pain in your leg muscle is a common occurrence after ab workouts. Hence your post-workout recovery should target leg muscle recovery as well.  Incorporating the following techniques would help your muscles recover faster after a good core workout:  1. Take a cold shower  After an intense workout, a cold shower is a great way to relax your muscles and help them regenerate. It is known to help reduce muscle soreness and promote faster recovery.  2. Use a calf muscle recovery tool  If you're experiencing pain in your legs and calves, an active massage compression tool would be the ideal solution. SPRYNG calf compression wraps are some of the best recovery massage tools available that promote healing in your leg muscles through active compression.  3. Hot water bottle  Experiencing sore abs is a sign you've had yourself a good ab workout. A good old hot water bottle or a heat wrap can help ease the pain in your sore abs as it increases blood flow and speeds up recovery.   4. Rest and recover  One of the best ways to relieve muscle soreness post-workout is to allow your body to heal itself. So don't try to push beyond your limits. Give yourself plenty of rest and ensure you receive sufficient high-quality sleep each night so your body can recover itself.  For more on alleviating muscle pain post-workout, visit here.