Have you ever noticed that you’ve come home from the gym feeling a little sorer than you normally do? Here are some signs that your pain may be something more serious.
Pain that lingers for more than 72 hours
If you’ve done your regular workout and are feeling sorer than you normally would 72 hours afterward, this may be a red flag that something else may be wrong.
If you’ve added some new parts to your workouts such as squats or deadlifts, you will more than likely experience some soreness. This is known as delayed onset muscle soreness and lasts anywhere between 24 to 72 hours. As time progresses this pain should begin to subside, if it hasn’t decreased within 3 days after exercising, we recommend that you consult with your Physio or Doctor.
If you notice any swelling, this indicates that a tissue has been traumatised and the repair mechanisms of your body are underway. In these cases care needs to be taken and the injury needs to be professionally looked at as soon as possible.
Pain that is acute and intense
If part of the way through your workout, you notice that something suddenly triggers off a sharp pain, it’s recommended that you stop and rest. If you return to the same exercise soon afterward and experience the same acute pain, then that is an indication that something in your body is being abnormally stressed by the movement in question. In this case, you need to avoid that exercise, or activity and consult with your Physio as soon as possible. The Physio will assess your body and identify why you experienced that pain. You may need to change your technique or the equipment you are using or you may need treatment to change the tissues in question.
Radiating pain
Pain that is radiating down your arm or leg isn’t a good sign, it often indicates that the nervous system has been affected in some way and you are sensing pain in the distribution of a particular nerve. This pain can be a bit more serious as our nerves are sensitive structures that don’t put up with a lot of stress. Cease the activity immediately that caused this sort of pain and seek the advice of a Physio or Doctor. To find a practice near you, press this link.