You finish a tough workout feeling great. Then the next morning, your muscles feel stiff and even climbing a flight of stairs suddenly feels like hard work.

Sound familiar?

You may be experiencing Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). It often happens after a workout that is harder or different from what your body is used to and usually develops several hours after exercise, becoming more noticeable over the next couple of days.

What's Causing the Soreness?

When you challenge your muscles with unfamiliar or strenuous exercise, microscopic muscle damage and the body's repair and inflammatory processes can contribute to the soreness and stiffness you feel afterwards.

And despite what you may have heard, lactic acid isn't the main cause of DOMS. Research has found that muscle soreness can occur even when lactic acid is no longer elevated after exercise.

How Can You Support Recovery?

You don't need a complicated routine to help your body recover. Stay hydrated, get enough sleep, eat balanced meals with adequate protein, and keep moving gently with activities such as walking or light stretching.

If muscle pain is making it difficult to get on with your day, Forpain can provide pain relief. 

Listen to Your Body

Some soreness after exercise is normal, especially when you're trying something new or increasing the intensity of your workout. Give your body time to recover and gradually return to your usual routine.

However, severe pain, significant swelling, weakness, or pain that does not improve should be assessed by a healthcare professional.