Doctor's visit for longer soreness advisable

Doctor visit for longer lasting soreness advisable: Difference difficult for laymen to recognize

30/10/2014

Experts from the German Sport University Cologne recommend loud a doctor, if a sore muscles "after three days still causes pain." Normally, soreness is not an unusual reaction of the body if you have over-stressed your muscles. "However, if the pain lasts longer, this may be an indication of a muscle hardening or a strain". In the worst case, it could even be a hamstring.

The difference to a serious injury of the muscle blurs easily and is therefore often unrecognizable to laymen, Dr. Ingo Froböse of the German Sport University Cologne. He advises, therefore, to visit the doctor in such a case. However, he does not consider a longer sports break necessary in case of a strain or hardening. As a rule, 3-5 days break, then the injury should be cured. The situation is different with a fiber tear, for such an injury needs at least a 14-day break, depending on the severity.

However, Froböse also warns against burdening regions affected by muscle soreness. Instead, one should shift the burden to unaffected regions. For example, if your arms are affected, you should "straighten your legs the next day."

Relief of muscle soreness
Researchers at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada have in the journal „Science Translational Medicine“ reports that massages have a soothing effect on the typical muscle aches after exercise. In addition, according to Froböse, sauna visits and "warm baths accelerate the regeneration of the muscles." (Jp)