If you continue your usual exercise regimen even when you're sore, you're not giving your muscles enough time to heal. In fact, pushing yourself during a bout of soreness can eventually lead to an overuse injury. Overall, you're at risk of causing harm to your body by not resting.
Is it better to rest or use sore muscles?
As long as you are just sore and not injured, you may feel better faster with an active recovery workout, vs. passive recovery (just resting your body). Exercise can cause sore muscles. Active recovery workouts don't need to take up too much of your time.
How sore is too sore to workout?
“My rule is that working out with a little bit of stiffness or soreness is okay. If it's a 1, 2 or 3 out of 10, that's okay. If it's getting above that, or the pain is getting worse during activity, or if you're limping or changing your gait, back off the intensity of the workout.”
How do you heal sore muscles fast?
To help relieve muscle soreness, try:
- Gentle stretching.
- Muscle massage.
- Rest.
- Ice to help reduce inflammation.
- Heat to help increase blood flow to your muscles.
- Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicine, such as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like ibuprofen (brand name: Advil).
Do I still workout if I'm sore?
If I'm sore, should I continue my routine the next day? It's common to feel sore after an intense workout, especially if you're trying something new. If you're sore the next day, it's probably a good idea to take it easy. Try some light exercise, like walking, while your muscles rest.
Is it OK to workout when muscles are sore?
It is generally safe to work out when sore. However, overtraining can lead to muscle damage or injury. Generally, soreness due to exercising is not a cause for concern, and people can often continue doing physical activity.