When you feel physical discomfort, your first instinct shouldn’t be to dismiss it. Pain is not normal, but not all discomfort is pain. Knowing the differences between soreness vs. pain will give you a better idea of how you should respond and whether you need to see a chiropractor.
What is Muscle Soreness?
Soreness is common after strenuous physical activity. When you use your muscles to exercise, it results in small tears in the fiber. Your body rebuilds those tears, strengthening the muscle for future use. But these tears will cause soreness, which typically sets in a few hours after exercise. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) isn’t unusual and typically only lasts for a few days after your workout.
Pain Can Feel Like Soreness at First
Muscle soreness and pain may feel similar in some ways, resulting in stiffness, cramping, and feelings of discomfort. Timing is one surefire way to know if what you’re feeling is normal soreness. If you are lifting weights and feel a sudden surge of back pain, you’re not experiencing typical muscle soreness. Pain can feel similar to soreness, but it can also be sharper and more severe. It’s also more persistent, often staying with you much longer than a few days.
Soreness vs. Pain: How to Handle It and Get Healthy
Soreness and pain require different approaches when it comes to treatment. If you feel sore after a workout, give yourself time to recover, but don’t avoid physical activity altogether. When your legs are sore after a 5K, you can get back into the gym and focus on your upper body. Good stretching and warm-up routines will also help you minimize the effects of DOMS.
If you feel pain in the middle of a workout, stop immediately. Trying to push through it can increase the severity of injury and put you in more significant discomfort. Treat the affected area with ice or heat and reduce any physical activity that exacerbates the pain. If your symptoms last for more than a week, consider seeing a doctor.
See a Chiropractor for Your Back Pain
Injuries and pain can occur when you live an active lifestyle. Don’t let pain slow you down or throw you off your game. Chiropractic care can get you back in the gym and on track with your health goals. Schedule an appointment with Bird Chiropractic, your trusted chiropractor serving Voorhees Township, NJ, since 2005.
