Delayed onset muscle soreness.
Delayed onset muscle soreness is a temporary painful or uncomfortable condition which takes place within the next twenty four to forty eight hours  after a physical activity or unusual training. Normally the problem settles down after a few days. In quite rare cases, delayed onset muscle soreness may last up to nine days. If the discomfort persists beyond this point, perhaps a specialist's advice is needed.
Originally, this was thought to be caused by lactic acid build-up which occurs after anaerobic exercise. New studies have established the theory that delayed onset muscle soreness is caused, because tiny microscopic tears in the muscle fibers occur during unusual movements, positions or training levels. This is called recovery process.
More recent research claims that delayed onset muscle soreness is not caused by the damaged muscle cells and the recovery period but by a process of
development and growth. The muscle responds to intense workout by reinforcing itself beyond the previous strength by adding new segments in the muscle fibrils. This reinforcement process makes the cells to gain volume and consequently put pressure on to the
adjacent
nerves and blood vessels, resulting in the delayed onset muscle soreness.
For an athlete to reduce pain after exercise, thorough warming up is required, since warmer muscles are more flexible and less susceptible to damage. Gradual relaxing after training makes quite a lot of difference, as well.
According to the above latest theory, further training does not make existing delayed onset muscle soreness worse, since the reinforcement process is already underway. On the contrary, the recovery theory indicates that additional workout can deteriorate the problem.
Although there is not any particular treatment, a lot of remedies, such as therapeutic massage, ice, heat, rest, topical anti-inflammatory medications and stretch, have been proved beneficial for management of delayed onset muscle soreness. |
