How do I deal with soreness?
Delayed onset muscle soreness, also known as
DOMS, gets everyone, especially if you’re doing
an exercise for the first time. Some people hate
it, while others take a sick sort of pleasure in it.
Any time you pursue fitness improvements, you
can expect occasional soreness to be part of the
picture. One positive element you can hope for is
that it “takes more to get you sore.”
DOMS isn’t necessarily an indication of a workout’s
effectiveness. More than anything, it’s a sign that
you’ve done something new. It could be an entirely
new movement that induces soreness, or it could
reflect a small shift in your lifting technique. Either
way, an absence of soreness does not indicate a
bad or ineffective workout. This is key, because
while intense DOMS can have the effect of dis-
suading beginners from sticking with the workout,
more experienced lifters often attribute the lack of
DOMS to a lack of progress.
Experiencing soreness is a great message from
your body that it’s time to rest from anything close
to a maximum effort until the soreness completely
dissipates. While some studies suggest that there
are no magic techniques to speed the healing of
sore muscles, a combination of rest, ice, massage,
or even a light workout can be the best approach
to getting back to peak condition.Frequently Asked Questions and Concerns cont’d 83