Stiff, sore muscles can limit your range of motion. You can actually become more flexible the same day that you get an effective massage. This is especially true if your masseuse is able to release tension points and knots in your muscles and help you to move around better. Get a massage a few times a month or more. Stress can really make your muscles tense and stiff. Working out, doing heavy lifting or other physical activities can also cause your body to tighten up. For this reason, finding the time to do some relaxing activity is important to improve your flexibility and keep stress from limiting your range of movement. Some examples of relaxing activities are, walking, meditation, swimming or anything that helps you unwind. Most people take shallow breaths from the chest instead of deeper breaths from the belly. During exercise, it is especially important to engage the diaphragm for optimal breathing. Spend 5 minutes each day focusing on slow, deep breaths so that your belly button moves in and out with each breath. This will help relax you and improve your posture, which in turn will improve your range of motion more quickly. Muscles are largely made of water, and for muscles to work properly, you must stay hydrated. A decline in performance or flexibility can be due to dehydration because dehydrated muscles cannot stretch to their full range of motion. Drink more water, particularly during and after workouts to improve your flexibility level.  The 8 glasses of water a day recommendation is a starting point, but your body may need more or less fluid than this. For example, you may need to modify your fluid intake if you are more active, live in a dry climate or are sick.   Check your urine to see if you are drinking enough fluids—it should be light yellow or colorless. You should also rarely feel thirsty.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Get a deep tissue massage. Relax. Learn to breathe properly. Drink a lot of fluids.


It usually affects people who have strep throat, as it's caused by the same Streptococcus bacteria. In rare cases, it may be caused by streptococcal skin infections. Anyone can contract scarlet fever, but it occurs primarily in children under age ten. Especially in children, look for the following symptoms of scarlet fever:  Red, sore throat Fever Red rash that feels like sandpaper Bright red skin in underarm, elbow and groin creases A whitish coating on the tongue or back of the throat A "strawberry" red tongue Headache Nausea or vomiting Abdominal pain Swollen glands Body aches Although scarlet fever itself is generally a mild illness, if left untreated it can result in rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is a serious condition that can cause inflammation of the heart, joints, and nervous system. Other complications that sometimes arise from scarlet fever include:  Kidney disease Ear and skin infections Abscesses in the throat Pneumonia Arthritis The doctor will perform a physical exam in which he examines the throat, tonsils, and tongue. He'll also feel the neck to check for enlarged lymph nodes and examines the rash. To confirm the diagnosis, he will take a throat swab and have it analyzed for the presence of the strep bacteria. Because scarlet fever is a bacterial infection, it responds well to antibiotic treatment. These medications should be taken precisely as prescribed to ensure successful treatment. Though not all of these medications will be prescribed, the doctor will recommend whichever combination will best treat your specific case:  Amoxicillin: three  30 – 50 mg/kg doses per day for ten days. Augmentin: 30 – 50 mg /kg/day in divided doses given every 12 hours for ten days. Biaxin: an alternative for patients allergic to Penicillin antibiotics like Amoxicillin and Augmentin. 250 mg is taken orally every 12 hours for ten days. It is available in liquid form for children in doses of 250 mg/5cc. Zithromax or Azithromycin: 500 mg orally on day one and 250 mg daily on days two through five. Keflex: 500 mg four times daily for ten days for adults or children over 12. It's available in liquid form for children in doses of 25 – 50 mg/kg/day in divided doses. About one in ten people experience side effects from antibiotics. Luckily, these effects are usually fairly mild, and pass whenever you've completed treatment. In most cases, side effects affect the digestive system:  Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Bloating and indigestion Stomach pain Loss of appetite Within two days of starting antibiotics, you should see an improvement in symptoms like sore throat and fever. You should feel more energetic and begin regaining your appetite. The rash will last a little longer, and will heal over several days or weeks. As it heals, the skin will peel off — this is perfectly normal, so don't panic! Let your doctor know if you’re not responding on schedule. It may suggest further complications that need to be addressed.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary --
Recognize the symptoms of scarlet fever. Seek immediate medical attention. Get a medical diagnosis. Take the prescribed antibiotics. Be prepared for the side effects of antibiotics. Watch for signs of improvement.