Sore muscles don’t have to slow you down for long

We have all experienced sore, stiff muscles. You can’t lift your arm to brush your teeth or it hurts even to walk. Your muscles are sore and tender, and you have to take easy while the muscle recovers. Muscle soreness generally follows after physical activity, especially if you haven’t used those particular muscles for a while. If you haven’t exercise for a while and decide to start big, or if you increase the duration or intensity of your workout, your muscles will respond with soreness.

You will notice the soreness between 24 to 48 hours after activity and health professionals refer to it as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and it is perfectly normal. Why do muscles get sore, and are there ways to minimize DOMS?

The cause of muscle soreness

Many people believe that the production of lactic acid causes the muscle to ache, but that is a misconception. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, microscopic tears to muscle fibers occur during exercise, causing the muscle to become sore and inflamed. The tears and the inflammation are the real culprits.

Preventive measures

Prevention is better than cure when it comes to preventing muscle soreness. Do warm-ups before exercise to prepare the muscles for the workout, and allow the muscles to cool down after exercise by doing easy aerobic work, such as jogging or walking. Exercise experts suggest at least 10 minutes of cool-down exercise.

Soothe aching muscles

If muscle soreness still happens despite preventive measures, take positive actions to deal with the pain. To begin, give the sore muscles some needed rest. Use ice packs to reduce inflammation or anti-inflammatory medication. You may also use heat therapy or massage to relieve soreness and discomfort.

Sore muscles after a workout are not necessarily a bad thing: They are a sure sign that you have worked your body. If you are looking for relief for sore muscles, contact us to schedule a massage today.