It happens to every athlete at one point or another. The extreme soreness associated with working muscles harder or in a new way.
Soreness is not a bad thing, but everyone would prefer that the pain be as little as possible.
You should expect (and plan for) soreness in the following situations:
Soreness is not a bad thing, but everyone would prefer that the pain be as little as possible.
You should expect (and plan for) soreness in the following situations:
- When starting any kind of training program or new sport (You will be using muscles you probably didn't even know you had)
- Amping up your training by duration or intensity level
- Your workout consisted of exercises that are new to you, or that you have not done for a while.
- Participating in a physical activity inconsistently (even a week off can cause soreness when starting back up)
What you can control (important for ALL workouts):
- How you prepare for your workouts. This means hydrate and prepare your body so it can perform at its potential.
- What you do during your workouts. Keep hydrated and fuel your body if it is a longer workout.
- What you do after your workout. Within 30 minutes to an hour, you should consume something with high protein content. One of the most palatable choices is chocolate milk.
What you do NOT want to do is take a few days off for sore muscles.* It is often necessary to work through the soreness for a few workouts until your muscles start to get used to their new tasks.
* If you suspect an injury, you should follow your health practitioners guidelines.
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