Don’t Overdo It: Take It Slow To Avoid Pain

Don’t overdo it to avoid pain. Why do we feel pain in our muscles after a strenuous workout? According to the Hartford Courant, it could just be our body’s way of protecting us.

“It’s actually your body pushing back, a condition that physicians and physical therapists call delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). The scientific explanation of it is rather long and involves such things as the lactic acid build-up and proton transfers. What’s important to know… is that its purpose seems to be getting you to stop doing whatever it is that you’re doing long enough for your body to repair the damage you’ve already done.”

Says one physical therapist, “Soreness can be a good thing.”

Sore muscles that are felt within a day or so after strenuous activities “are a sign that the strain of heavy lifting or stretching caused microscopic mayhem in the cellular compartments that make up each muscle fiber. White blood cells, nutrients, and a host of biochemical agents flood the injury site. Inflammation at the site triggers a biochemical landslide of sorts that wakes up the nervous system’s pain sensors.”

If DOMS should strike, “one should gently stretch and continue to exercise lightly through the soreness,” says the physical therapist. “The key is to use a progressive program.”

That’s exactly what SimpleTherapy is — a progressive, adapting program that will start easy and build up gradually over time, as you advance in readiness. Take a look at the range of SimpleTherapy pain recovery programs available for your needs.