Tips to Reduce Pain When Playing Paintball

One of the first things a player learns about playing paintball is that it hurts. While paintball is not dangerous as long as you follow the rules, getting hit with a paintball can sting quite a bit. The full body workout you get from various activities may also leave your body aching at the end of the day. Pain is not all bad, though. While it may be annoying, it is typically a sign that your body is getting stronger.

AC Paintball in southern New Jersey provides a safe place to play paintball. We provide a referee for each game to ensure that each player follows the rules. If you are concerned about getting hurt, AC Paintball provides these tips for reducing the pain while playing paintball.

Wear Layers or Padding

Wearing layers or padding can help cushion the impact of a paintball hitting you. If it is not too hot, you can wear layers of clothing to give yourself some padding. Layers are good because if you end up getting too hot, you can always take a layer off. If you need to take off too many layers you may want to bring along backup padding.

Try to focus on covering the most sensitive areas first. Some of these include your neck, thighs and, back of your knee. You can buy official padding or use other materials such as bubble wrap. Many players at AC Paintball also prefer to wear gloves as they help you grip the marker and protect your hands.

Change How You Think About Pain

Your brain can be a powerful tool in changing the way you think about pain. If you change the way you think about pain, you will begin to worry about it less. Rather than thinking about how getting hit hurts, think about how you are getting stronger and tougher. Think about overcoming the obstacles and coming out on top. Try repeating a mantra in your head, “No pain, no gain” or “What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.”

Another idea is to try meditating before you play. Try to focus and imagine the game before it happens. By having an idea of what to expect, you can be better prepared for the pain. When you are prepared, it may not seem as bad as when every hit is a surprise. Also, study how your body works. Typically, if you get your adrenaline going, you focus on other aspects and don’t notice the pain as much. Do something before the game to get you excited. You can listen to music or move around to get your blood flowing.

Take Ibuprofen

While medicine may not take away the sting of getting hit with a paintball, it can relieve the aches from using different muscles. Ibuprofen prevents your body from producing prostaglandin. Prostaglandin triggers pain symptoms associated with inflammation, fever, etc. Taking Ibuprofen before playing at AC Paintball can lessen the aching after play. If you play often, be careful not to take too many. Follow the instructions on the bottle.

Build Up Your Muscles

Soft tissue bruises easily. When you have muscles, you can more easily adapt to environmental stresses. Strong muscles also reduce the chance of injury when making sudden movements. This can be helpful in paintball as it involves quick moves such as dashing, diving, and jumping. Building muscles will also help you improve your game and keep you healthier. If you are still new to paintball, getting hit may hurt for a while. However, the more you play, the more you will build up a tolerance and get used to it.