Too Much or Too Little… Getting It Just Right

With the new year comes new years resolutions. Fitness and exercise top the lists of resolutions. But how do you know when you’ve done too much, or too little? Let’s start by understanding the difference between soreness and pain.

Soreness is a dull, aching sensation that usually occurs after exercise. Sometimes, it sets in the following day, other times it sets in later. Soreness is your body telling you, “You made me do too much, and I need time to rest.”.

This is not a bad thing. In fact, some soreness should be expected, since the body releases stored chemicals. “Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness” (DOMS) is more likely to occur if you try new exercises or exert yourself more than you should. Soreness goes down with the appropriate amount of rest, nutrition, and hydration. Over time, the body adapts, and the same exercise routine causes less soreness. At this point, it’s important to ‘mix things up’ by trying different exercises and varying intensity and duration to continually challenge the body.

While soreness is expected, pain after exercise is not. In fact, pain is a warning sign that something is not right. Perhaps you did too much or did something that damages the body. Pain after exercise tends to be sharp and localized to one area. It tends to persist and sometimes gets worse. You should never exercise ‘through the pain’ since can lead to severe injuries. If you experience pain during exercise, stop right away and consult with a physical therapist. As your therapists, we will identify what caused the pain, and tell you how to get it right going forward.