• Aftercare – Make sure everyone is feeling okay and back to a normal state of mind. Do as you discussed while planning. Take care of each other.
• Physical care – Address any strain or injury.
• “It looks like you have some rope marks. Hand me that lotion, let’s massage those for a while.”
• “Wow you were in that position a long time. Here is some water. Drink more water tonight and it may help to take your preferred painkiller to reduce potential muscle soreness tomorrow.”

Over-the-counter pain medications (particularly ibuprofen and naproxen) help reduce inflammation and soreness that may be felt from micro-tears in muscle fibers that may happen if muscles have been stretched or put under stress beyond what they normally experience. Note, however, that aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen also tend to thin the blood a little (acetaminophen does not). If your partner is taking any medication that would conflict with a painkiller like this (prescription blood thinners, for example), it is critical that they follow all medical directives/limitations associated with their other medication.