If you’re new to working out or haven’t worked out in a while, you’re no stranger to feeling sore. Muscle soreness is the result of micro-tears that occur in the muscles during training and they’re your body’s immune system trying to repair the damage. While sometimes you just know you’ll be sore following a tough workout, other times it sneaks up on you. So why do you feel sore after a workout and is it normal?
One of the main culprits of feeling sore after a workout comes from overtraining and overloading the muscles. If you go too hard too quickly or try a new movement, it’s not uncommon to feel sore the next day. When you’re getting back into things, it’s totally normal to feel sore. Normal soreness occurs 24-48 hours post-workout and can last up to 72 hours. Soreness that lasts longer than this can be a sign of a more serious issue, so if this is happening to you, go see a doctor or physical therapist.
But being sore doesn’t have to stop you from working out. You may just need to take more rest days in between workouts. If you’re sore, give your body time to recover, so you can come back stronger. When you’re sore try and stay moving with low-intensity movements or try foam rolling or percussion therapy to improve blood flow and circulation.
