Potential Role of Cannabinoids on Sports Recovery

Proponents for using cannabinoids for sport-recovery often iterate the use of CBD for athletic recovery. According to science, cannabinoids offer significant benefits to athletes in both performance and recovery.

While evidence on the efficacy of cannabinoids remains comparatively low, many athletes and former athletes continue to buy products at online stores.

CBD and Athletes

The cannabis plant produces over 100 compounds known as cannabinoids. The primary and most popular of these compounds include cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Cannabinoids bind with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) to improve several cognitive and physiological responses such as mood regulation, sleep, and pain perception.

Since cannabidiol can offer anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, analgesic, anxiolytic, and pain-relieving properties, it can help to facilitate recovery in athletes during regular training and competition.

Training and competition can make athletes structurally and functionally unstable due to strenuous effort. However, consuming CBD could potentially improve the restoration of physical performance.

The interaction of CBD with the endocannabinoid system coupled with other recovery protocols is potentially useful for athletes. CBD recovery could help to reduce the accumulated fatigue evident for extreme athletes.

CBD Benefits for Athletes

Evidence on the efficacy of cannabinoids is limited due to federal restrictions. However, athletes are now advocating for cannabinoid-based products to manage several conditions related to sports performance and recovery. Here are some potential CBD benefits for athletes.

Sleep and Relaxation

Consuming CBD post workout can promote healthy sleep cycles without causing side effects. Having good quality sleep is very essential to athletic recovery. When you sleep after long workouts, the body repairs, reenergizes, and balances hormones.

Recent research recommends that athletes focus on improving their sleep for an improvement in general health and athletic performance. Furthermore, several studies link higher doses of CBD consumption to better sleep quality.

Reduce Inflammation

Recent studies also show the link between CBD and athletes. CBD may decrease re and post exercise inflammation which can help athletes recover faster. CBD can also make you train better by regulating muscle soreness.

CBD is Anti-Catabolic

Since CBD has anti-catabolic properties, it can prevent lean muscle tissue from breaking down. Studies also suggest that it can help to build more muscle mass. Research into CBD and athletes show that it decreases the rate of catabolic hormones in athletes as well as regulates the stress hormone cortisol. This helps in breaking down muscle tissue to provide the body with blood sugar.

Muscle Pain

CBD interacts with the endocannabinoids system to reduce our perception of chronic muscle pain. Researchers suggest that combining CBD with small amounts of THC can stabilize muscle fibers in athletes experiencing muscle soreness). CBD can also decrease muscle spasticity in patients.

CBD for muscle pain works in two ways. First applying a potent topical CBD salve or cream can soothe sore muscles by providing instant relief from the outside. The skin absorbs topical CBD compounds, therefore leading to muscle pain relief. However, for general muscle pain relief, ingesting CBD products work effectively to bring general body relief. Furthermore, they are less messy and less expensive than topical CBD.

Bottom Line

Athletes who want an alternative to prescription pills can choose from a wide range of CBD recovery products such as pills, edibles, and topicals. However, there is a need for deep studies on the effects of CBD on fatigue, damage-related recovery, and athletic performance.