Got Sore Muscles? Exploring Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)
Andy Curtiss, BEXSc, NASM - CPT, CES, PES; ACE - CMES; SNC, CNLP W e’ve all experienced it; that burning, achy sensation that cuts right to the bone whenever you try to flex or move a muscle. Sometimes it lasts for days, and you just want it to end. It can occur in the chest, arms, legs, abdominals, neck, or back and it tends to have an effect on mobility and performance. Perhaps you experienced it after beginning a new exercise program or sport. It seems like there’s nothing you can do to get rid of the pain other than to just allow it to take its course. This pain is referred to as delayed – onset – muscle soreness (DOMS) and to be frank the exact mechanism of why it occurs is unknown to researchers. There are currently around six, main theories on exactly how DOMS occurs. None of these theories have been proven. This article will discuss DOMS, some of the theories behind it, its symptoms, myths, precautions, and treatments. Occam’s Razor Occam’s Razor is a p...