5 Secrets to Tackling Muscle Soreness

Muscle soreness is something almost everyone experiences, whether from exercise, daily activities, or doing something unfamiliar or more strenuous than usual. In this episode, we explain what causes delayed-onset muscle soreness and share five practical ways to manage it, from getting enough rest and gentle movement to using heat and cold, proper nutrition and hydration, and stretching or massage. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Muscle soreness often appears later—not immediately. Delayed-onset muscle soreness typically develops 12–24 hours after an activity and can be strongest between 24 and 72 hours. Soreness that occurs suddenly during an activity may indicate something other than normal post-exercise soreness, such as an injury. 2). Give your body time to recover and prioritize sleep. Rest and sleep allow the body time to recover and rebuild after unfamiliar or more strenuous activity. If soreness persists longer than expected or does not improve, this suggests that it may be worth paying closer attention to what is causing it. 3). Gentle movement can help ease soreness. Complete inactivity isn't necessarily the best approach. Light activities such as walking, pool exercise, using a recumbent bike, or gentle stretching can get the body moving, increase circulation, and help tight muscles loosen up without adding strenuous exercise. 4). Nutrition and hydration support muscle recovery. Proper nutrition, including protein and carbohydrates, helps provide the body with what it needs after physical activity. Staying hydrated is also important, particularly because older adults may not always experience thirst as strongly and therefore may need intentional reminders to drink water throughout the day. 5). Stretching, massage, and foam rolling can be useful self-care tools. Gentle stretching can help maintain flexibility and range of motion while potentially reducing tightness and soreness. Massage and foam rolling are additional options, although the hosts caution that foam rolling should be done carefully and preferably with proper instruction. The main message is that muscle soreness is a normal part of adapting to new or more challenging activity, but it doesn't have to stop you from staying active. Giving your body time to recover, moving gently, staying hydrated and properly nourished, and incorporating stretching or other forms of self-care can all help you manage soreness and keep moving. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.