Exercise Aches and Pains: Why Do I Always Hurt?

 

The older exerciser is certainly familiar with the whole aches and pains concept.  Forget about the old adage about “no pain, no gain.”  Senior athletes need to focus on the “no pain” half of that equation.  .

 

Granted, anyone who is physically active is going to experience a certain amount of soreness, stiffness and even the occasional ache, pain and injury that goes along with doing something new.  Exercise, however should not be painful.  You should not have to suffer in order to make yourself stronger and healthier.

 

It is normal to experience a certain amount of soreness a day or two after exercising, especially if you haven’t been doing much of it lately and are starting a new workout routine.  This is called delayed-onset muscle soreness.  The soreness just means that the muscles are have been tweaked a bit but are now getting stronger.   This minor soreness does not mean that you have injured yourself.  It is just your body adapting to a new challenge.

 

However, a stab of actual pain during an exercise may be a warning sign.  Excessive exercise can cause severe muscle damage.  Many people over-do it when they start a fitness program.  I am as guilty of this as the next gal.  I never quite believe that the exercise is actually doing anything unless I feel some discomfort (this usually means really sore).

 

Gasping for breath and having sore joints are signs that you are overdoing it.  If what you are doing is causing you pain, you are doing too much.  Reduce the intensity or try a different exercise.  Repetition or doing the same activity over and over can cause pain too.  The pain is due to overuse, which means repeated stress on a particular area of the body.

 

The Mayo Clinic Fitness Book gives some tips to help you deal with minor pain after a workout:

 

• Get up and get going.  Giving your body a proper warm-up can help reduce aches and pains.

 

• Over the counter pain relievers should be sufficient and safe for most people.

 

• Stretching your muscles after your workout should ease sore muscles.

 

• Indulge in a massage from time to time.

 

Last but not least, don’t be too hard on yourself.  If you have a flare-up of bone or joint discomfort, it is okay to back off for a time.  If your pain is lasting for more than two weeks you might consider consulting a physician.

 

Comments

[online doctor]

i think to have pain after is just normal, it only shows how your body functions in your daily life. To have proper exercise is the key to have successful healthy body and physically active.

[TravelGirl]

How much aching and fatigue is normal? I am trying to simply walk 30 min/day, 5 days a week. I have a heart monitor, so I know I'm not going too slow or too fast. First it's one then another aching muscle that disturbs my sleep or my day - I usually finally just get too weary of the aches and start to avoid walking. I try not to take pain meds, but I wonder if I should take ibuprofen for 4x/day for 2 weeks to get over the hump? Secondly is the fatigue. After a walk and stretching, I'm really wiped out. I'm too worn out to make a meal, for example, so I end up sitting around for a couple of hours. I'm a busy gal and don't have much time for this type of recovery. BTW I drink at least 8 glasses of water daily. Any suggestions?

[get rid of man boobs]

The only way to achieve overall body fitness & flexibility to incorporate simple anaerobic exercises in program. Most of can be performed successfully without hi tech devices and equipments or even gym facility, because all need is set of free weights, rope and jogging track maybe, to achieve body compression and or tension required for muscles system.

[Healthy exercise]

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