After a workout, it’s common to experience discomfort in your muscles. But how do you know if it’s just soreness from a challenging workout or an injury? Here are some tips to help you tell the difference.
Soreness
Muscle soreness is a common side effect of exercise, particularly if you’re starting or trying a new routine. This type of soreness is often called delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and usually peaks within 24-72 hours after your workout.
Symptoms of soreness may include:
- Muscle tenderness
- Stiffness
- Reduced range of motion
- Mild swelling
Soreness typically gets better over time as your muscles recover and can be alleviated with rest, stretching, a well-balanced diet, hydration, and tons of sleep!
Injury:
On the other hand, an injury is a more severe issue that may require medical attention. Injuries can be acute (sudden) or chronic (long-term) and can be caused by various factors such as overuse, improper form, or trauma.
Symptoms of an injury may include:
- Sharp pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Reduced range of motion
- Weakness
- Instability
If you suspect you have an injury, it’s important to stop exercising immediately and seek the attention of your Coches. Exercising with an injury can worsen it and delay the healing process.
How to Prevent Injury:
Preventing injury is always better than treating it. Here are some tips to help you avoid damage during your workouts:
- Warm up properly before exercising
- Use proper form and technique
- Increase the intensity and duration of your workouts gradually
- Wear appropriate shoes and clothing.
- Listen to your body and take breaks as needed
- After getting cleared by a medical professional, work with your Coach to help rebuild your strength
In summary, soreness, and injury are two different things. Soreness is a normal part of the exercise and can usually be managed with rest and self-care. On the other hand, injuries require professional attention and can be prevented by listening to your body and addressing symptoms early on with your Coach.
If you or anyone you know is in pain or unsure how to get out of pain, set up a Free Consultation with us; we can help!
