No Pain, No Gain…not so fast
You know the old saying, “No pain, no gain” but how do you interpret it? I interpret it to mean that you have to push past your comfort zone, maybe well beyond your comfort zone to get results and meet your goals. I do NOT interpret it to mean mask pain with drugs, continue working out through joint pain or muscle pain that never seems to go away or pushing through a diagnosed injury. You’re just asking for a bigger problem and longer recovery when you fail to listen to what your body is telling you
Muscle soreness and stiffness is normal and natural after a hard workout or competition, but it shouldn’t stay that way (beyond 48 hours). Severe joint pain is also not normal, nor is shooting or sharp pain. Don’t push through that type of pain.
Pain provides you with valuable information about your body. You should listen to it and find out where the pain is coming from and what can be done to correct it.
If you do have regular or consistent pain beyond the normal muscles soreness consider the following:
- You have poor form
- You have poor technique
- You didn’t warm up
- You didn’t stretch
- You have a small muscle imbalance
- The right and left sides of your body aren’t working together
- The energy that you are producing for the activity is not going to this activity. It’s going into the stress.
If you experience pain beyond the normal muscle “workout” soreness or stiffness than look for a solution.
Check your posture, be aware of your form, don’t push out a few extra reps at the expense of form. If you’re already inflammed, rest and figure out the cause.
If you can’t figure it out on your own, have the pain checked out by a doctor, physical therapist, chiropractor, athletic trainer or other health care professional. Treat your pain as a puzzle and remember that pain is indicative of a weak link or energy leak – it’s there to tell you something, so please listen.
