Is It OK To Exercise When Your Muscles Are Sore?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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In most cases,

gentle recovery exercises like walking or swimming

are safe if you're sore after working out. They may even be beneficial and help you recover faster. But it's important to rest if you're experiencing symptoms of fatigue or are in pain.

How sore is too sore to workout?

“My rule is that working out with a little bit of stiffness or soreness is okay. If

it's a 1, 2 or 3 out of 10

, that's okay. If it's getting above that, or the pain is getting worse during activity, or if you're limping or changing your gait, back off the intensity of the workout.”

Should I wait until muscle soreness is gone?

“When you're sore, you can't give your all, so you don't get as much out of your workout,” Cumming said. “Your technique also might not be that good.” Both Cumming and Helgerud recommend waiting

until the worst soreness is gone

before embarking on a new session with the same exercises.

Does muscle soreness go away the more you workout?

This means that your muscles will be better prepared to handle the stress the next time you work out. The best way to relieve muscle soreness is to perform some gentle exercises, like walking or light . It may seem counter intuitive, but

the more you move, the faster the discomfort will go away!

Should you workout if your muscles are sore?

You can work out if you're sore.

Don't exercise the same muscle groups

that are hurting. Do legs one day and exercise your upper body the next. By doing so, you'll still be able to get exercise and allow your lower body to recover and rebuild.

Is it good to stretch sore muscles?

“Stretching helps break the cycle,” which goes from soreness to muscle spasm to contraction and tightness. Take it easy for a few days while your body adapts, says Torgan. Or try some light exercise such as walking or swimming, she suggests.

Keeping the muscle in motion

can also provide some relief.

How can I speed up muscle recovery?

  1. Drink a lot of water. Hydrating after a workout is key to recovery. …
  2. Get enough sleep. Getting proper rest is easily one of the most effective ways to recover from any form or degree of physical exertion. …
  3. Eat nutritious food. …
  4. Massage.

Why am I still sore 3 days after working out?

Typically, DOMS is

the musculoskeletal pain

the creeps into your world about one to three days after particularly tough exercise, resulting in sore muscles, a loss of range of motion in your joints, and reduced muscle strength. (Ugh.) Basically, tiny cellular changes are wreaking havoc on your body.

Is it OK to exercise with DOMS?


You can exercise with DOMS

, although it may feel uncomfortable to begin with. The soreness should go away once your muscles have warmed up. The soreness will mostly likely return after exercising once your muscles have cooled down. If you find it hard to exercise, you could rest until the soreness goes away.

How much time does it take for sore muscles to heal?

As your muscles heal, they'll get bigger and stronger, paving the way to the next level of fitness. The DOMS usually kicks in 12 to 24 hours after a tough workout and peaks between 24 to 72 hours. The

soreness will go away in a few days

.

Does soreness mean growth?

(2013) found that some muscles, like your shoulders, do not experience the same degree of muscle soreness compared to muscle groups like legs and biceps. However, we do know that if we train our shoulders they will grow, so therefore, we can

not say that muscle soreness equals muscle growth

.

Do sore muscles burn fat?

Your muscle won't change into fat if you stop lifting. However,

having muscle will help burn fat

. In fact, strength training continues to burn more calories up to 24 hours after your training session.

How painful is Rhabdo?

Unlike DOMS, rhabdo causes

such extreme pain that the muscles become stiff and rigid

, such that its hard to move; people who've had rhabdo describe the pain as excruciating. In other words, you're not likely to mistake it for the discomfort of a typical workout.

Should you ache after every workout?

It is a common misconception that feeling sore is a sign that you've had an effective workout. However, it is merely an indicator

that

you're trying something new your body isn't used to. A good workout doesn't necessarily mean you have to feel sore the next day.

How many times a week should I workout?

If you really want to see results reflected on the scale and continue to make progress over time, you need to commit to working out at least

four to five days per week

. But remember, you'll build up to this. To start, you might only want to do two or three days per week and slowly work your way up to five days.

Should I work out every day?

As a general goal, aim for

at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day

. If you want to lose weight, maintain weight loss or meet specific fitness goals, you may need to exercise more.

Leah Jackson
Author
Leah Jackson
Leah is a relationship coach with over 10 years of experience working with couples and individuals to improve their relationships. She holds a degree in psychology and has trained with leading relationship experts such as John Gottman and Esther Perel. Leah is passionate about helping people build strong, healthy relationships and providing practical advice to overcome common relationship challenges.