Good Workout: Bad Feeling

Over the last few days I have been suffering from some intense DOMS, or for those unfamiliar with the term Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness. I could talk about the details of the cellular damage and the cell membranes of muscle cells ripping but most of you probably aren’t concerned about that. You just want to know what it is and how to alleviate this nagging pain. 

 Basically DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) is that pain that follows an intense workout. This pain is particularly noticeable when you first start working out after an extended break or when you are trying out a new workout. I actually am suffering from this for too reasons right now. I had a track meet on saturday and it truly felt like I got hit by a bus when I woke up. Also, on tuesday I decided to go to the gym and get in a good lift after some biking. I have been lifting consistently with the team but its been a while since i did a heavy lift on the bench. Consequently, my pecs feel like they want to fall on the floor and my legs are still in shock to some extent from saturdays meet. A lot of you are probably familiar with this feeling or will be sooner or later.

 Now the moment you’ve all been waiting for…what can you do to prevent or treat DOMS?

Well to some extent there is nothing you can truly do except live an extremely idle lifestyle…bad idea. BUT ” research has shown that the best treatment for DOMS is repeated low intensity muscular activity.” Personally I think that is 100% true seeing as how whenever I start a new workout routine, muscle soreness is only an issue for the first week or so. Afterwards, despite how much harder the workouts may get your body is very well accustomed to it by that point. I have also found that light stretching when your warm is helpful. Also a lot of coaches I have worked with strongly advocate ice baths or cold showers. I’ve never taken an ice bath (too scared) but the cold showers have worked wonders for me.