$Unique_ID{BRK00842}
$Pretitle{Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue}
$Title{Is There Anything Special About Delayed Muscle Pain After Exercise?}
$Subject{muscle sore exercise treatment}
$Volume{M-18}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Is There Anything Special About Delayed Muscle Pain After Exercise?


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QUESTION:  If I exercise for any length of time, I can develop a muscle
soreness that doesn't show up for two or three days.  Is there anything
special about this pain and what should I do to treat it?

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ANSWER:  This is called delayed-onset muscle soreness and is thought to be
caused by structural damage to muscle fibers after a certain kind of exercise,
and this damage takes longer to heal.
     When you lift a weight your muscles contract and you produce a force to
raise the load against gravity, which is called "concentric" exercise.  But
when you lower the same weight your muscles produce the same amount of force
to slow down the descent of the weight, which is called "eccentric exercise."
     Sports and exercise physiologists now believe that delayed-onset muscle
soreness is caused by structural damage to skeletal muscle after eccentric
exercise, in which muscles produce force while lengthening, as in running
downhill.
     This damage may take as long as 12 weeks to be repaired by the body.  So
athletes should allow plenty of time for recovery after events that may cause
extreme muscle soreness.  Patience, along with heat, the appropriate use of
analgesics and rest will be your allies in your recovery.
     Because training that involves eccentric exercise has been shown to
prevent delayed-onset muscle soreness and muscle damage, you should pay
special attention to the eccentric part of any exercise or sports you engage
in.  For runners this would mean running downhill during training as well as
uphill.  This will strengthen the eccentric part of your leg muscles, and thus
help prevent structural damage.  And prevention is always the best medicine.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
