Chances are, if you’ve ever worked out before, you’ve experienced some degree of muscle soreness.  Whether you are a beginner to exercise or a seasoned fitness enthusiast who has been training for years, muscle soreness happens to all of us and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. 

According to experts, during physical activity, small microscopic tears form in the muscle, creating minute amounts of damage to the muscle fibers.  The combination of tears and inflammation in the muscle is what causes the aches, soreness and pain.  A small amount of muscle soreness should be expected, particularly after experimenting with a new form of exercise.

So why would you experience muscle soreness 24 to 48 hours after exercise instead of immediately after?   The reason, according to Exercise Physiologists is because of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS), the natural (and completely normal) response to muscles tissues that have been worked beyond their usual capacity.  In other words, if you push it hard and try a new and strenuous exercise in the gym, you may experience DOMS and feel the pain the next day or even the day after.  As your muscles adapt to the new exercise and become stronger, the soreness will dissipate.

So what can you do to help alleviate the muscle soreness?  Experts agree that stretching is critical to alleviating soreness and preventing injuries.  Regular stretching helps to elongate the muscles, preventing muscle contractions and spasms. 

In addition to regular stretching, resting adequately between exercise can help your body to recover quickly, thus preventing further damage or injuries.  Ice, heat and even the occasional anti-inflammatory can also help to relieve muscle soreness and discomfort.  For more information about proper exercise and stretching techniques, please refer to your Exercise Tab within your program and speak to your certified Venice Nutrition Coach.

Live well.

Our best,

The Venice Nutrition Team

*information derived from webmd.com