will working out when muscles are sore cause injury?

[mariep]

Hi, Cathe--

I went for a jog Sunday for the first time in about 4 months, so, of course, my quads are pretty sore. I stretched a lot when I was done, but they're still sore. Is it ok for me to continue working out even if my legs are sore? I'm not going to be able to work out Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday this week (because of other stuff going on), so I didn't want to take even more rest days, since those 3 are already more than I usually like to take (although I guess Sunday is next week, isn't it?). The jog was Sunday, and my legs were sore yesterday (Monday), but I still did Step Blast, and I'd like to do Push Pull tonight (Tuesday). My quads still feel sore today, and they did feel sore while doing SB, but not so much that I wasn't able to do it. It actually felt pretty good to get moving.

What do you think?

Thanks!

-Marie

 

[balletgrrl]

Hi Marie,

Granted, I am no expert, but I think it would be fine if you did Push/Pull this evening. Since you are already taking at least 2 or 3 rest days this week, that will give your legs plenty of time to recover. Also, like you mentioned, sometimes it is good to exercise when you are sore because it works the lactic acid out of the muscles and it actually feels good!

Keeping this in mind, I would still suggest going light on the legs portion of Push/Pull. Still do enough to give yourself a good workout, but I don't think tonight would be the night to really push your legs, if you know what I mean. Hope this helps!

Alison

 

[mogambo]

Another possibility of course is to do a long killer upper body workout whenever your legs are sore. Or something like swimming or water aerobics, if that's a possibility.

 

[mariep]

RE: will working out when muscles are sore cause injury...

Thanks for the replies, you guys. I was actually thinking of following one of these two suggestions, either doing an upper body-only workout, or at least taking it a bit easier on the leg stuff. You hate to not give it your all every time, but I know you also have to listen to your body, too!

Thanks again!

-Marie

 

[trevor]

RE: will working out when muscles are sore cause injury...

I would think working out might help ease the soreness. The only way I'd think you might risk injury is if the soreness causes you to alter your motion or favor the sore area and put more stress on other areas of the body.
A little soreness is good because it means you are working the muscle.
Trevor

 

[mariep]

RE: will working out when muscles are sore cause injury...

That's kind of what I was thinking. Like I said, I did StepBlast the next night, and while I felt sore when I started, it actually felt good to get moving. I did do Push Pull last night, and I felt good for that, too. The working out actually seemed to help ease the soreness by getting the muscles moving. I guess it's just a matter of listening to your body and knowing when you can push (and pull!) it and when you really do need to back off, such as if, as you said, your form is suffering because of the soreness. I now have the next two days off from exercising because of some other stuff going on, so I'm sure that will help the soreness, which actually has gotten better.

Thanks for the thoughts, Trevor!

-Marie

 

[trevor]

RE: will working out when muscles are sore cause injury...

You are very welcome Marie!
Trevor

 

[emy]

An aerobics instructor told me that it is very good for you to workout when you are sore from the previous day's workout (unless it is possible that you are sore from an injury instead of a tough workout). This seems to agree with what everyone else is saying.

 

[mariep]

RE: will working out when muscles are sore cause injury...

Thanks, Emy! I think the working out definitely eased the soreness a little, so I'm glad I went ahead with it. I think the only time I wouldn't do it would be, as Trevor suggested, if my form would suffer. It's good to know a professional recommended the same!

-Marie