You go on a bike ride or attend a Pilates class for the first time in a long time and are proud of yourself for finally doing some exercise again. However, the next day, pride will not be the only thing you feel, but above all your sore muscles: you will get sore muscles.
If you don’t use certain muscles in your body, they will be broken down. If you then perform an unusual movement – for example, when playing sports, doing gardening or moving house – you will experience muscle soreness.
It was previously assumed that sore muscles were caused by excess acid in the body. However, researchers have now discovered that it is not the increased lactic acid level in the muscles that causes the aching and pulling the next day, but rather fine tears in the muscle fibers. These are by no means dangerous, but rather lead to a repair mechanism in the body.
The more often you subject your body to the same stimulus, i.e. the same activity, the less severe the muscle soreness will be, as the affected muscles adapt to the strain. After a few weeks of regular training, you will no longer feel the pain in your muscles as much.
The fine tears are not directly responsible for the pain, which you only notice 12 to 24 hours later. If these micro-tears occur in the muscle fibers due to overexertion, inflammatory substances are released. These mix with water, which penetrates the tissue through the tears, and cause the muscle fibers to slowly swell. The so-called edema that occurs stretches the tissue extremely. You usually only feel this stretching pain a day after the overexertion: you get sore muscles.
By the way: There is no prescription for this. You do not need to apply ointments as the muscle is too deep under the skin. Many people find a hot shower or a warm bath pleasant, but the positive effect has not been scientifically proven. If you have sore muscles, it is better not to exercise with the same intensity. A walk or gentle exercise could possibly help. Instead of being annoyed about your sore muscles, you should be happy about what it means: your muscles are growing. Two days later, the pain has usually disappeared.
The original of this article “This is what happens in our body when we have sore muscles” comes from Teleschau.
