Signs of Muscle Pain that are Dangerous After Exercise

Illustration of sports. (Freepik)

JAKARTA - Muscle pain often appears after exercise, especially if the body is not used to a certain physical activity. In many cases, this condition is considered normal as part of the muscle adaptation process.

However, it is important to recognize when the pain is still normal and when it becomes a sign of an injury that needs to be watched out for.

Sports medicine specialist, dr. Zeth Boroh, Sp.KO, ALK, explained that not all muscle pain can be considered normal. "Muscle pain is a lot. Unnatural muscle pain that we associate with injury," he said in a media meeting in Jakarta, as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, April 16.

He explained that muscle pain can be cramps or Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). Cramps usually occur due to sudden muscle contractions, causing pain. Meanwhile, DOMS is pain that appears several hours after exercise, generally starting to feel within the first 12 to 24 hours.

According to dr. Zeth, muscle pain is still considered normal if it only lasts for one to two days. However, if the pain continues for more than three days, the condition should be suspected as an injury.

"If it lasts only 1-2 days, it's cramps or DOMS, which disappears after three days. But, if it's not normal, if it's continuous, well that means an injury," he explained.

He also emphasized that pain is the most common early sign of a mild injury. Unfortunately, many people ignore this signal because they consider pain to be part of the training process.

"That is sometimes not recognized by sports enthusiasts. They think 'no pain, no gain'. In fact, don't let the pain, it is the beginning of an injury," said dr. Zeth.

Therefore, he suggested that you do not force yourself to continue exercising when you feel pain.

"If there is pain, it indicates an injury, even if it is mild, rest," he said.

For initial treatment, muscle pain can be overcome by compressing the affected area or using pain relievers.

"It can be compressed with kinesio taping. It can also be with other methods or with the administration of drugs, both painkillers orally and topically, which we can easily get now," he added.

By understanding the difference between normal muscle pain and signs of injury, a person can be wiser in exercising and preventing the risk of more serious injuries.