Should You Still Workout When You're Sore?

Are you wondering if it's a good idea to continue your exercise even when you're sore?

It may be your first time working out again after a long time, and your muscles may not be used to extreme physical movements. In that case, you may feel a little sore after your workout. The pain may last for hours or even days. But, you don't have to wait for the soreness to disappear before continuing your workout. Learn more about muscle soreness and how you can prevent or minimize them in this article.

Should You Still Workout When You're Sore?

Before we discuss whether it's a good idea to work out when sore, you need to know the difference between muscle soreness from injury pain.

Muscle soreness is sometimes a result of using your muscles after a very long time of inactivity. This soreness is due to the slight tearing of your muscle fibers, which is totally normal. Your body repairs these small tears, and as a result, your muscles become stronger. Muscle soreness may disappear after a few days.

On the other hand, pain as a result of injury usually occurs in other body parts like your tendons or joints. The pain is sharper and usually more intense than normal muscle soreness. It can be so severe that it hurts even when you're not moving or it keeps you awake at night. This isn’t normal, and it may be a sign of injury. If you have felt this, you need to immediately stop doing any workouts and seek help from your doctor.

If you're just experiencing the symptoms of muscle soreness, then you don't have to stop exercising. In fact, it's healthy and beneficial to continue working out when you're sore. As long as you're not overloading your muscles, your muscles will eventually recover, and your body will become more used to your workout routine.

Examples of Recovery Workouts That Prevent or Minimize Soreness

Continuing your workout when you’re sore doesn't mean that you can just continuously perform strenuous exercises or do intense pro cheer dance routines. This can cause you more pain, and it will take longer for your soreness to disappear.

You can, instead, alleviate your soreness through anti-inflammatory medication, getting a massage, or taking a hot shower. You can also perform recovery workouts to minimize muscle soreness along the way. Examples of low-intensity recovery workouts are:

Stretching. It will make your body more flexible and lessen muscle contraction and tightness.
Easy aerobic exercises like jogging or walking. A cool-down phase is essential after your workout. Your body can gradually stabilize to its resting state.
Cycling. Cycling has a low impact on your muscles and doesn't put pressure on your joints. It's an excellent way to keep your blood flowing while helping your muscles recover after an intense workout.
Yoga. It is a good active recovery workout because it boosts flexibility and controls breathing. Your mind will also be more sound and relaxed.

Conclusion

Muscle soreness is most likely experienced by people who are starting a new exercise program, changing their workout routine, or increasing the duration or intensity of their workout. So if you're feeling sore after your pro cheer training, just take it easy while your body adapts to your routine.

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