How to deal with muscle soreness
Nina Jordan • June 16, 2025
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You crushed it at the gym, you increased your weight and intensity... Now your muscles are talking back — and not in a good way.
If you hit the gym regularly, you’ve probably had days where walking up stairs feels like climbing Everest. That post-workout ache is called Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS), and while it’s a normal response to pushing your body, it doesn’t mean you have to suffer through it blindly.
Here’s how you, the everyday gym-goer, can handle soreness smartly and keep your training on track.
1. Don’t Skip Movement -
Taking a full rest day can feel tempting when you’re sore, but staying completely still can make you even stiffer. Instead, continue to get your blood flowing and help flush out muscle waste.
Think of it as damage control, not punishment.
2. Hydrate Like It’s Part of Your Workout -
Muscle soreness can worsen when you're dehydrated. You’re already sweating buckets in the gym — don’t shortchange your recovery.
Drink water consistently throughout the day.
Better hydration = better recovery.
3. Use Heat and Ice — at the Right Times -
Right after a brutal workout? Ice can help bring down inflammation.
A day later when the tightness sets in? Heat can relax stiff muscles and improve mobility.
Hot baths, warm compresses, and even contrast showers (alternating hot and cold water) can be game changers.
4. Stretch, But Don’t Overstretch -
Dynamic stretches before your workouts = good. Static stretches after your workout = better. When sore, aim for light, feel-good stretches — this isn't the time to force a deep hamstring stretch.
A few minutes a day can keep you moving without making soreness worse.
5. Foam Roll Like It’s Your Job -
If you’re not foam rolling, you’re missing a golden recovery tool. Just a few minutes of rolling can:
Ease muscle tension
Improve blood flow
Speed up recovery
Target sore areas gently — it should feel relieving, not like torture.
6. Fuel Up Post-Workout -
What you eat after the gym matters — especially when you’re sore. Aim for:
Protein to repair muscle fibers
Carbs to replenish energy
Healthy fats to fight inflammation
A protein shake with banana and peanut butter? Perfect post-gym fuel.
7. Get Serious About Sleep -
Your muscles aren’t just recovering in the gym — they’re repairing while you sleep. Aim for 7–9 hours a night if you want your body to bounce back stronger.
Late nights + early morning workouts = sore, grumpy, and stuck in a plateau.
8. Know the Difference Between Soreness and Injury -
DOMS is normal. Sharp, stabbing, or long-lasting pain? That’s a red flag. Don’t ignore your body trying to warn you.
When in doubt, back off and reassess.
Final Thoughts
Soreness is part of the process — a sign that your workouts are working. But being sore shouldn’t mean dragging yourself through the week. Use these strategies to recover smarter, stay consistent, and keep progressing without burning out.
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