Exercise causes muscle soreness. Aimee Layton, an assistant professor of applied physiology at Columbia University and a member of Peloton’s Health and Wellness Advisory Council, says inflammation signals the body to rebuild.
It’s important not to ignore your body when it’s signaling pain, Layton said. Pain is a sign of injury and should be treated accordingly. Don’t ignore your body’s pain signals, Layton said. Pain receptors have a purpose. Muscle-building soreness is OK, but a sharp pain “should not be pushed through,” she said.
How can you tell? Experts tell how to distinguish an injury from soreness after a workout.
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Look Out For Swelling Or Stiffness
Dr. Michael Fredericson, a sports medicine physician at Stanford Health Care, says swelling around joints is a red flag. He explained that stiffness around joints in the knees, hips, ankles, or lower back is also concerning, although stiffness around muscles you worked out is normal.
If your mobility is hindered by joint or muscle stiffness, you should take notice. Your doctor should know if that’s the case.
Take Note Of How Quickly Discomfort Sets
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Layton said soreness usually comes one to two days after exercise. Injury, on the other hand, is more immediate. Injuries usually occur during workouts or directly afterwards, she said. If you stop using a muscle, it may hurt. Overexerting your shoulder or making a misstep while running can cause immediate pain.
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Injuries Don’t Get Better During A Warmup
Warming up or stretching won’t make an injury go away, Layton said. A pulled hamstring won’t get better by doing forward bends. It’ll probably get worse as you warm up – and it’ll get worse if you work out. Layton says a prolonged warmup will make you feel better when you have soreness rather than an injury.