society and community | March 02, 2026

Is muscle ache after workout good?

Is muscle ache after workout good?

The good news is that normal muscle soreness is a sign that you’re getting stronger, and is nothing to be alarmed about. During exercise, you stress your muscles and the fibers begin to break down. As the fibers repair themselves, they become larger and stronger than they were before.

Should I push through muscle soreness?

Sports medicine physician Dominic King, DO, has an answer that helps cut through abundant and often-conflicting advice: “A certain low level of soreness is acceptable, but you should not push through pain while exercising.”

Why does muscle soreness feel good?

The soreness you feel post-grind is actually the result of small tears in your muscles. These micro-tears trigger your muscles to grow and overly compensate for the activity you’ve just put them through – so they regenerate, creating new muscle fibre that makes us stronger.

Should I wait until muscle soreness is gone?

These tears do need time to heal. Because your muscles need time to recuperate and grow, prevailing wisdom states that you should give sore muscles 1 to 2 days of rest before exercising them hard again.

How long should I be sore after a workout?

Typically, you’ll feel most uncomfortable 24 to 48 hours after exercising, which is why it’s often called delayed onset muscle soreness, or DOMS. You may also feel less coordinated and more tired. These effects are nothing to worry about and should disappear within three to four days.

Why does squeezing sore muscles feel good?

As soon as your skin’s nerve cells feel pressure, they signal the brain to release feel-good chemicals called endorphins, which boost your mood and give you a natural high. As a result, stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline begin to decrease and the overall effect is one of euphoria and bliss.

Why does stretching hurt so good?

It’s thought that its pain-relieving effects are due to the relaxation of blood vessels, the release of beta-endorphins, and the suppression of prostaglandins.