Written by: Dennis Meszler, PT, MPT, SCS
When you’ve finally made up your mind to commit to those exercise goals you’ve had in mind the last thing you want to deal with is pain slowing you down. Starting to create good health and workout habits makes us feel empowered and energized to keep things moving in the right direction. Therefore, if pain from our workouts starts to creep into our daily life many will disregard it as much as possible and continue the activities that have given us the results we have been looking for. The classic phrase “no pain , no gain” pops out and we rationalize a reason to continue. But is that phrase true?
There isn’t an easy answer. It depends on many factors but maybe the most important is our ability to heal before the next workout. If soreness/pain is still around when you try to push the body again it can easily start a downward spiral that ends up with you unable to continue working out even if you have the will to.
Left over soreness/pain can alter the way we move. The human body is a really good cheater. If our body senses pain it will alter the sequencing of muscle activation and/or ranges of motion that our joints go through to try to avoid the pain. Altered movement patterns are almost guaranteed to be less efficient and can lead to either an increase in the pain you already have or a whole new pain altogether.
So how do you decide if the pain is ok to work through? Here are a few caution signs to look for:
- soreness in a joint rather than a muscle
- pin-point soreness on a bone or in a muscle (muscle pain should be diffuse not focal)
- soreness that alters the way you move
- swelling in a joint following a workout
- soreness that you can’t eliminate by warming up
Hopefully adding in some more recovery time will help eliminate any of these issues. If they don’t go away or you need more guidance in evaluating and working through what is going on reach out to the sports medicine team at Raleigh Orthopaedic Performance Center for help.
Schedule an Appointment with Raleigh Orthopaedic
If you’re dealing with pain, discomfort, or an injury, don’t wait to get the care you need. Our expert team at Raleigh Orthopaedic is here to help you feel better, move better, and get back to doing what you love. Schedule an appointment online or call us at 919-781-5600 to be seen—often within 48 hours. For immediate care, we offer walk-in orthopedic urgent care services. Click here for hours and locations.
Disclaimer: The information on this site is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis, treatment, or medical judgment. Always consult a physician or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have about a medical condition or treatment.