What causes extreme muscle soreness?

The popular theory of today about the cause for sore muscles is micro-trauma to muscle fibers. When you overdo your physical exertion, whether it be during work or play, you do some localized damage to the muscle fiber membranes. This damaged muscle can become inflamed, which can cause soreness.

Other factors could be:

· That the damaged muscles release chemical irritants, which can irritate pain receptors.

· That there is an increase in blood flow to the area because of the increased activity of the muscle. This increased blood flow can cause swelling, which can irritate pain receptors.

So, whenever you overdo it physically, there is the possibility you won’t wake up feeling great! This is due to the fact that your muscle fibers have microscopic tears, are fatigued from the exercise, and are swollen due to various reasons.

By moving the sore muscles, you can gradually return them to their normal state. Don’t try to exercise at your previous intensity, though, since the damaged muscles have lost some of their strength. Give the muscles some time to heal before attempting to exercise or work at the level which originally caused the injury and soreness.

How do I avoid sore muscles?

While there is no “cure” once you have sore muscles (other than time), there are tricks to help you avoid sore muscles altogether.

· When you exercise, gradually increase the intensity of the workout. This will allow the strength and endurance of your muscles to grow.

· Make sure that you stretch and warm up properly before any physical activity. Stretch and cool down at the end of the activity. This will help you avoid the sore muscles in the future.

· Make sure that you are using the correct form when exercising, as incorrect posture and positioning can cause sore muscles.

It is best to think of sore muscles as an injury. You cannot push them or you will cause more damage or even more serious injury. While you do not have to stop activity completely, you will have to rest more and do moderate exercising for several days in order to give the muscles a chance to heal.

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