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Is It Unhealthy to Be Sore Every Day?

FitSugar — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 12:30:00 -0800

When I work out, I try to vary my exercise from day to day. Not only does it prevent me from getting bored, but it also gets me to work different muscle groups. When you jump into a new exercise routine or complete a pretty tough workout, you'll probably wake up the next day and be so sore, it hurts to laugh. I love that feeling because it reminds me how hard I worked, but is it unhealthy for your body to be sore every day?

Let's talk about why we get sore in the first place. That feeling is caused by microscopic tears in your muscle fibers, and you can feel the effects 24 to 48 hours after strenuous exercise. As your body repairs the damaged muscles, they become even stronger, which is a good thing. A little minor soreness is your body's way of letting you know that your muscles are adapting to your fitness routine. It's completely normal to feel sore even if it's every day, but if you're feeling severe pain, you may have an injury, so it's best to get that checked by a doctor.

If you know it's just soreness that you feel, it's definitely okay to still work out. Listen to your body though. If you're hurting too much to walk normally, then you should probably skip the run today and give your muscles a chance to heal. You can still work out, but do some gentle walking, take a yoga class, or focus on working other muscle groups instead. Working sore muscles can actually make them feel better because it brings blood to those areas, which helps promote healing.

Fit's Tips: If the pain is really bad, get a massage or take an OTC anti-inflammatory and skip the gym.

Working Out When Really Sore - Is It A Good Idea?

FitSugar — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 11:45:00 -0700

I'm one of those people who LOVES feeling sore the day after working out. I love to feel muscles I haven't felt in a long time - it makes me feel like I really worked it.

That sore feeling is normal, and it's caused by microscopic tears in your muscle fibers. When your body rebuilds the damaged muscles, they become even stronger.

If you've gone for a run yesterday, and today your thighs and butt are so sore that you have a hard time walking down stairs, then you probably want to skip out on running for the day. You want to give your muscles a chance to heal completely and properly, if you don't, you could end up injuring yourself.

That doesn't mean you have to skip out on exercising altogether. Take it down a notch and maybe go for a short walk or do some stretching - the light exercise will get your blood pumping and actually might help to relieve some of your discomfort. Or use this as a great opportunity to work some other muscle groups. Grab some weights and work your arms, or do some ab or booty strengthening exercises.

Fit's Tips: The main point here is to listen to your body, and do what you're comfortable with. Obviously if you are in a lot of pain, you want to rest your body. You can take an OTC anti-inflammatory such as Advil (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen sodium/naprosyn). Or you can take arnica or rub Topricin on your sore muscles. If a muscle is extremely tender, you can also ice the area to reduce swelling and pain. On the other hand, if you are sore all over, taking a hot bath or getting a gentle massage might be the answer to your body's prayers.

Source

Cyrocup!

FitSugar — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 02:00:00 -0800

With all this talk about Shin Splints and muscle soreness, you may want to know about this product.

The Cryocup ($5.39) is an ice-massage tool. Simply fill it with water and freeze before you run, dance or whatever it is you do that causes you to be sore. When you're done, rub the ice on the problem area. This cold resistant handle makes it a lot easier to hold than a large block of ice. Buy it here.

Fit's Tip: If you can't get around to buy a Cryocup, you can always make your own version by using a plastic drinking cup (fill it with water and freeze). The only issue with this option is that your hands will get super cold and you may not be able to massage the sore area for as long.