Do You Know the Difference:
Sore and tender muscles following a vigorous workout may be no surprise to an active individual. However, how do you know when it is something more? How do you know when it is time to seek medical attention?
The answer may simply be..... timing.
Soreness/Pain:
-Tender when touching muscles, tired or burning feeling while exercising and minimal dull, tight, and achy feeling at rest
-Onset: during exercise or 24-72 hours after activity
-Duration: 2-3 days
-Worsens with: sitting still
-Action to take: resume activity once soreness subsides
Injury:
-Ache, sharp pain at rest or when exercising
-Onset: during exercise or within 24 hours of activity
-Duration: may linger if not addressed
-Improves with: ice and rest
-Worsens with: continued activity
-Action to take: consult with a medical professional if pain is extreme or lasts more than 1-2 weeks
General aches and muscle pains are signs of tired muscles and are nothing to be concerned about as long as they don't last longer than 2-3 days. If you get pain or stiffness that you feel earlier in your exercise session or that lasts for a long time afterwards, you may have an injury. Sudden pain may indicate muscle or tissue damage. These symptoms are different from the muscle aches you get the first time you do a new exercise, as they don't go away when you repeat the same activity. This could mean you have to change your activity or seek professional advice.