Acute soreness in your muscles after any workout is a relatively normal phenomenon. It typically occurs with lactic acid build-up and is felt hours to a day after physical activity.

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) results after strenuous physical activity and presents as muscle soreness one to three days after exercise. This is a result of microtears in the muscle tissue resulting in inflammation in the tissue. Both phenomena are typical characteristics of muscle building as a result of increased physical activity. Both phenomena are easily treated and self-limiting with proper hydration, stretching, warm-up, warm down, and rest time.

If the soreness lasts for more than several days or becomes more intense, evaluation by a trained professional is recommended. In addition, soreness in the muscle bellies being trained is typical. Still, a more serious problem may exist when pain is located in the tendon insertions (e.g., Achilles tendon, patellar tendon, biceps tendon). If this type of pain persists or worsens, then once again, evaluation with a trained professional is recommended.