Kick Off a Stronger Rugby Recovery: How CBD Can Support Your Training

Six Nations fever has gripped the nation, and the rugby boots have been dusted off and hit ground running.  This is good news for the Sport, great for boosting our physical health but the demands on muscles and joints are big – for both professional players and amateurs alike.  But there could be help at hand by building Pureis CBD into your daily exercise and rugby recovery routine, so read on to learn more.

Warming up and stretching down

Movement, whether that’s a match, training session, or just a bit of rugby touch, helps to maintain and improve our fitness, moderate our mood, and create a more positive outlook on life. But it’s crucial that a proper warm up and stretch down is incorporated into your routine.

Warming up prior to a rugby training session or match is crucial as it can reduce the risk of injury, improve performance, increase blood flow, enhance flexibility, and help your mental preparation. It also ensures that the body isn’t put into an imbalance when activity suddenly increases.  Building CBD supplements into your daily routine could also support your body’s natural balance by interacting with your Endocannabinoid System (ECS), which plays a crucial role in regulating mood, sleep, focus, and physical health. You can find out more about the ECS by reading on here.

The warm-down is equally important, and whether it’s due to life pressures or time constraints, many of us neglect to properly recalibrate our bodies after exercise, which can have annoying repercussions such as muscle soreness and tightness, delaying rugby recovery and limiting our ability to train further.

What helps muscle recovery?

Following intense or even moderate physical activity, our bodies operate at a higher temperature and with an increased heart rate. Additionally, our muscles build up lactic acid as they have been operating with less oxygen. This could have a knock-on effect, making you less inclined to exercise in the future, so a sensible warm-down is essential.

If we prepare the body for the change in tempo post-exercise, we can guide our body back to a stable baseline. Light aerobic exercise will assist the body in delivering oxygen to muscles to reduce the lactic acid build-up, whilst static stretches will add additional relaxation to muscles and return them to more balanced movement.

How can CBD topical balm help with a post-exercise routine?

Though the science research is still in its infancy on the benefits of massaging a hydrating CBD and glucosamine balm for recovery, initial data suggests that it could help play a role in easing the body back to regular functioning. Massage therapy has been widely studied for its potential benefits in sports and exercise recovery, and it may help reduce muscle soreness associated with delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

Studies show that CBD might assist with homeostasis. In other words, bringing the body back to its natural state. Homeostasis is a goal of exercise-recovery, and there are signs from the scientific community that CBD has an influence on the ECS which has information exchange between our endocrine, exocrine, and nervous systems. Communication between these systems enables us to rebalance as they feed back to one another to regulate all the processes affected when exercising.

Mike Tindall MBE, former England Rugby Player, member of the Royal Family and Brand Ambassador for Pureis explains how the CBD Muscle & Joint Balm has played a role in his rugby recovery:

“The more active you are, the less your body shuts down on you, especially after a career in sport. Obviously playing rugby for 17 years professionally and now at the high level of amateur. Things can get sore, muscles can get tight, and I found the CBD Muscle & Joint Balm it works for me.”

Muscle tightness

Our muscular system is put under pressure when we train, and post-exercise, our muscles are likely to feel tight. The burden put upon our muscles during a period of more intense exercise, including playing the most physical of sports, rugby, can cause them to become inflamed as they work with less oxygen and increased activity. Massage therapy has shown potential benefits for muscle oxygenation and recovery, activating pathways that promote muscle regeneration and reduce inflammation.

The introduction of CBD into this equation may be helpful, because of how it has been shown to interact with the ECS. The ECS promotes blood circulation, aids how the body reduces inflammation, and helps prevent spasms. There’s also some evidence that massaging a CBD balm to an area of tightness can support recovery, leading people to consider using CBD balm, as an alternative approach to helping with recovery.

When and how should I take CBD?

Everyone is unique, so there’s no set way to take CBD. CBD comes in many formats, from capsules that can be taken orally, to oil sprays, drops, and balms.

Currently reporting on the Six Nations tournament, Mike has shared his positive experiences with CBD for rugby and general wellbeing. He takes 560mg oil at night and 20mg capsules in the morning and massages the Muscle & Joint Balm onto the skin, finding it beneficial for his post recovery routine.

Before considering making it part of your routine, it’s best to speak to your doctor or a healthcare professional. They can advise you on how to help muscle recovery. If you’d like to further understand CBD in general, please learn more at Pureis CBD.

Pureis is not intended to treat or prevent any physiological or psychological disease.