Using the muscles that you have not used for a while takes some getting used to. The muscles have pretty much been dormant and the stretching that you encounter when working out a new exercise program will cause some discomfort until the muscle has been worked on regularly. This is known as DOMS or delayed-onset muscle soreness. You are putting your muscle through a new range of movement. This occurs not only when trying a new exercise or just beginning to exercise, but also if you increase an exercise in repetitions. There could also be some muscle fiber tearing and inflammation going on when you experience this pain. Mild discomfort is expected and you should adapt to the stretching. However, severe pain means that you are hurting yourself and you need to step down a notch. This pain should not be something that you feel after you have done the new exercise a few times.
Another type of discomfort that you may feel is similar to a burning muscle or a tired muscle. This is a normal feeling for those who workout. It is known as lactic acid buildup. This burning, tired feeling in your muscle means you are working your muscle hard, but not too hard. As you end your exercise session the pain should dissipate and not carry over, but leave you with a feeling of fatigue minus the burning. There is no potential damage done.
A feeling of fatigue and some slight muscle discomfort is absolutely normal when you are exercising, especially if you have not done it in a while. A feeling of extreme pain should send up a red flag to tone down your exercise program a bit. The tired or slightly achy muscle should not prevent you from exercising. It can be tough getting used to any type of new exercise program, but if done carefully and correctly it will not be long before the “hurt” goes away and the feeling of being “fit” kicks in. You know at this point you are entering into the beginning stages of a more physically fit you.
Angel Lynn writes in fitness, weight loss, single parenting, media and health.