There's no better feeling than starting your fitness journey and getting a proper workout routine going. You're preparing mentally and physically to treat your body better, but there's one thing you may not be aware of.
When you first start working out, especially if you haven't in a long time, you may find yourself in some pain after those first couple workouts. Noticeable the most in places like the arms and biceps. There's no need to really worry, as this is normal, but you may be wondering what really causes this? In this blog, we're going to be taking a look at some reasons as to why you're experiencing pain after you first start working out.
When we do vigorous workouts, your muscle fibers can get micro-tears. This can lead to DOMS, also known as delayed onset muscle soreness. This may come to your surprise but there are benefits to DOMS. It is a normal reaction from your body that contributes to muscle growth.
With this, there is also an increase in blood flow in the affected muscles. This blood flow contains nutrients that help in healing your muscles. However this creates swelling & inflammation from the blood flow pushing on your nerves. This is where that pain comes from and leads to things like limiting your range of motion.
There are a variety of reasons as to why this could potentially be happening. Always keep in mind, when our bodies are not conditioned to certain types of heavy movement, there is going to be an adjustment period to get used to. When starting out, its important to make sure you're not over doing it.
When we constantly overload our muscles past their conditioned limits, we put ourselves at risk for neuromuscular injuries. Be sure to gradually increase the intensity of your workouts overtime. Don't go chasing that PR your friends have had for a year now a week into your workout. The more your workouts involve unconventional movement, the more you're at risk for potential soreness.
Generally, these pains should clear up within 48 hours of them beginning. One way to relieve some pains is by doing a light range of motions. Even the same ones you did during the workout, just without the weights. Eventually, you're body is going to condition itself to the type of routine your setting up for yourself. So for now, rest up and recover, because the journeys just beginning.
