Why do my muscles get sore?

    Researchedby:
    Kamal Patel
    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    Muscle soreness after exercise usually goes away quickly, but prolonged muscle soreness, otherwise known as Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS), can last for days. Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs), light exercise, massage, and good nutrition can play a role in alleviating or preventing DOMS.

    What is soreness?

    Soreness in the muscle during and immediately following exercise manifests as mild pain and stiffness that makes it hard to continue exercising. Muscle soreness usually goes away relatively quickly.

    Prolonged muscle soreness is called 'Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness', or DOMS for short. It is more delayed in its resolution and can sometimes last for days. This is the soreness that somebody would feel after a hard run or leg session and be unable to easily walk up stairs the next day.

    What causes soreness?

    There are various things that contribute towards DOMS.[1] Including:

    • Neutrophil accumulation
    • Substance P
    • Aseptic Inflammation
    • Interstital Edema
    • Creatine Kinase

    Lactic Acid is commonly thought to induce muscle failure or soreness, but has not been shown to be the causative factor. It is highly correlated though[2], as lactic acid is produced when the muscle is sore; however its more of a fuel source than a soreness causing agent.[3][4][5]

    How can I get rid of soreness?

    There are various mechanisms of reducing DOMS.[6]

    Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) like Aspirin (Acetylsalicyclic acid) or Ibuprofen (Advil) can reduce future DOMS when taken at around the time of exercise.[7][8]

    Some light exercise, or moving the affected joints and muscles, can also alleviate DOMS.[8][9] This may be due to merely moving the affected muscles, as 'whole-body vibration therapy' has recently been suggested to do similar.[10][11]

    Cryotherapy, or ice water submerging, has beneficial anecdotes by various athletes but has not been shown to be of much benefit in randomized controlled trials.[12][13] That being said, cryotherapy may hold some potential in cases of muscular trauma such as hamstring tears or intense muscular strains.[14][15][16] Cryotherapy's effectiveness may be closely tied in to the degree of muscular damage, and serve as a bridge between such anecdotes in high level athletes and a lack of results in novice trainees in intervention studies.[17]

    Athletic massage after exercise may also be effective in controlling DOMS[18], possibly via reducing how many neutrophils get to the site to induce soreness.[1]

    Proper pre-workout nutrition can also play a role in preventing DOMS, as BCAA supplementation has been shown to be beneficial[19] (and can be consumed through whey protein or protein-containing foods)

    Stretching (static) before or after exercise is not significantly effective in reducing DOMS from exercise.[20]