How to tell workout soreness from injury

Teach: How to tell workout soreness from injury

What to say

Normal soreness after exercise is a dull, spread-out ache in the muscles you worked, starting a day later and fading over two or three days. An injury is more often sharp, in one spot or a joint, starts during the movement, or comes with swelling, bruising, a pop, weakness or a limp. Rest and ease back from soreness; stop and get checked for anything that looks like injury.

What to show, in order

1. Notice when the pain started: during the lift, or the next day.
2. Notice what kind it is: a dull ache across the muscle, or sharp pain in one spot or a joint.
3. Look for swelling, bruising, a visible change in shape, weakness or a limp.
4. Treat plain soreness with easy movement such as walking, and let it fade over two or three days.
5. Skip hard training on a body part that is still very sore.
6. Stop the exercise at once if you feel a pop, a sharp pain or a joint giving way.
7. Call your local emergency number, 911 in the US, for chest pain, pressure or fainting during exercise.

When to stop and call a professional

• You feel chest pain, pressure, fainting or severe breathlessness during or after exercise: call your local emergency number, 911 in the US.
• Your urine turns dark brown or cola colored with severe muscle pain and swelling after a hard session: go to an emergency room now or call your local emergency number, 911 in the US.
• Pain is sharp, in a joint or bone, comes with swelling, a pop or weakness, or has not eased after a week: see a clinician.

The check question

Ask: Which pain is typical workout soreness? Answer: A dull ache across the worked muscles the next day

From EveryManSkills. General information, not professional advice.