The Health Corner: The Science of Soreness (part 1 of 2) Maybe youre out of shape and finally started an exercise routine. Perhaps you increased the duration or intensity of your workout. Or maybe you tried a new kind of exercise. If any of these cases are true, it’s likely that you experienced delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Sore muscles following new or unusual exercise is completely normal. Don’t be alarmed. Instead, expect it. Soreness is part of the bodys normal process as muscles strengthen and grow. When you use your muscles in a way they’re not used to, microdamage (tiny injuries) in your connective tissues and muscle fibers often result. The amount of soreness you experience depends on what type of new exercise you did, how difficult the exercise was, and how long you performed the exercise. If youre planning to start a new exercise routine or want to step things up a bit, the thought of sore muscles may discourage you. So the question is, “How can you avoid getting DOMS?” In years past, stretching prior to a workout was the recommended way to prevent sore muscles. However, current research has shown that this does little to prevent soreness. It’s now been proven that youre better off beginning your workout with a good warm-up period before intense exercise. Follow your workout with a cool down, and stretch at the very end.
Posted on: Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:00:00 +0000
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