Why Am I Sore? (DOMS)

So we are 18 days into 2023 and you are absolutely crushing your fitness goals, but there is only one problem: you can hardly walk. Starting a new workout routine can be exciting, but it can also leave you feeling sore the next day. This phenomenon is known as delayed onset muscle soreness or DOMS for short.

There are a few reasons why we experience DOMS after starting a new workout routine. One of the main reasons is that our muscles are not used to the new movements or exercises we are performing. When we engage in physical activity that our muscles are not accustomed to, it can cause small tears in the muscle fibers. These tears are a normal part of the muscle building process, but they can also cause soreness and inflammation. Muscle fibers tear when working out because when you exert stress on them it damages the muscle fibers and as a result they slightly tear. Once this happens the body will send blood and nutrition to the area to help it heal. This is how your body grows musculature and over time the mircrotears will form into muscle mass.

Another reason we may experience DOMS is due to a lack of proper warm-up and stretching before starting our workout. When we engage in physical activity without properly preparing our muscles, it can lead to tears and soreness.

Lastly, starting a new workout routine can also cause DOMS because we may be pushing ourselves too hard, too soon. Overtraining can lead to a variety of issues, including muscle soreness, fatigue and even injury.

To minimize the effects of DOMS, it’s important to start your new workout routine gradually, and to include proper warm-up and stretching before each workout. It’s also important to listen to your body and avoid pushing yourself too hard, too soon.

Remember that soreness is a normal part of the muscle building process, and it will decrease as your muscles adapt to the new routine. To help alleviate soreness, you can also try using foam rollers, stretching, or taking a warm bath with Epsom salt.

In summary, starting a new workout routine can cause delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) due to muscle fiber tears, lack of proper warm-up and stretching. To minimize the effects of DOMS, it’s important to start gradually, listen to your body, warm-up and stretch properly, and take measures to alleviate soreness.

You are 18 days in and congratulations if you have stuck to your goals so far! Keep moving, keep pushing and always remember a little is a lot better than nothing. You won’t be sore forever- You’ve got this.

By Brett Kirkland

FAQ

We certainly do! You can either purchase programs or book personal training sessions and be given your workout at the end of the session.