Rothstein Discusses the Science of Muscle Soreness
Coordinator and Instructor for the Exercise Science, B.S. program Alexander Rothstein, Ed.D., lent his expertise to the Prevention article “Should I Work Out When Sore?” He explains that, in many instances, the soreness experienced after a workout can be attributed to delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), which can range from stiffness to severe, restrictive pain depending on the extent of the training.
While experts have yet to fully understand why DOMS kicks in after a particularly intense or new workout, Rothstein says “it is believed to be from structural damage to muscle and cell membranes” caused by excessive tension on the muscles. That damage, he notes, then creates an inflammatory response that activates pain receptors and swelling in the affected areas. Rothstein recommends that those experiencing DOMS after a tough workout should consider lower-intensity workouts in the days following, which can facilitate muscle recovery by generating blood flow to affected muscles. He also advises against using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), like ibuprofen, during this time as they “may potentially blunt the [muscle] repair process and can hide the sensation of pain,” leading to the potential of overtraining again and worsening your condition overall.