CBD has been used for a wide variety of reasons as more research has been done on it. Many high-level athletes have begun to utilize it to manage pain. The athletes who’ve tried using CBD for pain management have reported not only a reduction in muscle pain and accelerated recovery from injuries, but they’ve also claimed it helped them to sleep better.
While there are still many organizations that categorize CBD as an illicit substance, the World Anti-Doping Agency allows the use of CBD. The CBD that athletes are using is considered a CBS isolate, which means it has no THC content, and, therefore, not intoxicating.
There are many companies that promote CBD use among athletes, one of those being cbdMD. You can read some cbdMD review articles online to know whether or not it’s the right brand for you.
What Is CBD?
While the most common form of CBD has historically contained THC, the chemical responsible for the psychological side effects or marijuana, there are forms of CBD without this chemical, and which can be used to manage pain and reduce inflammation.
Plus, CBD without THC has been found to not have the same opportunity for misuse or dependence with continued use. It’s actually been suggested that CBD can be used as an aid to managing an addiction to opioids and other substances.
CBD And Pain Management
There are many sources of pain that CBD can help manage. These include:
- Lower Back
When athletes experience lower back issues, it’s usually related to mechanical issues and soft tissue injuries. Additionally, there can be damage to the intervertebral discs, nerve roots can be compressed, or there’d been improper movement in spinal joints
CBD can be used topically in order to manage these kinds of pain in athletes. With a CBD cream, it’s both easy and safe to use it topically on the exact area where pain is felt.
- Neck
Common neck pains are usually caused by degenerative disc disease, whiplash, neck strain, pinched nerves, or simply bad posture. Again, CBD can be applied topically in this instance to help provide some form of relief.
- Foot
Whether an athlete faces injury, overuse, arthritis, or any other condition relating to their feet, CBD can be applied both morning and night to help with pain.
- Joint
Knee injuries are among the most common sources of pain among athletes, caused by either improper form or overexertion.
Why CBD?
The reason CBD has become popular among athletes for pain management is because, for one, it’s non-toxic and, two, it’s non-addictive. However, beyond these, CBD is believed to promote overall wellness of athletes.
Since athletes put so much strain on their bodies, both in training and in competitions, they must have a form of pain management that’s both effective and legal. CBD has antioxidant properties that can prevent oxidation in the body, which causes tearing in the muscles, while also serving as an anti-inflammatory that aids in preventing soreness and pain due to overexertion.
Athletes tend to put enormous amounts of stress on their bodies, which then leads to both pain and inflammation that go beyond what their bodies usually can handle. For this reason, when athletes take CBD as a supplement, they increase their bodies’ ability to reduce or prevent pain, as well as reduce inflammation, both during and after a workout.
Some of the benefits CBD include:
- Reduces stress
- Protects central nervous system
- Improves sleep quality
- Promotes muscle relaxation
- Aids in anxiety management
- Reduces both inflammation and oxidation
Side Effects
There are only a few side effects from CBD use. These include:
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Weight change
- Appetite change
CBD And Pain Prevention
Not only can CBD be used to manage pain that’s already existing, but it can even be used to prevent pain from becoming an issue at all. Studies have shown that taking CBD before training sessions can actually increase your performance, thereby creating less risk for pain later on as well.
Since CBD has anti-inflammatory properties, if taken before a training session or even a game, it may help reduce the inflammation you either already have or would be possibly getting in the future.
CBD Legality For Athletes
Unlike other drugs, CBD is, in fact, legal for athletes to use in training and competitions. Since CBD doesn’t have the psychoactive component of marijuana, the THC, it can be used safely and legally.
Conclusion
Yes, CBD can help athletes manage their pain in a safe and legal way. Whether that pain stems from the back, feet, joints, etc., CBD can either be consumed as a supplement or applied topically to help in both preventing and managing pain.