What Is Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness?
If you’ve ever woken up after a workout feeling stiff, achy, or sore—congratulations, you’ve experienced delayed-onset muscle soreness, or DOMS.
DOMS is common and completely normal. It usually appears 24 to 48 hours after new or intense physical activity and can affect people of all ages and fitness levels. While it may be uncomfortable, it’s actually a sign that your muscles are adapting and getting stronger.
What Causes Muscle Soreness?
When you engage in exercise—especially unfamiliar movements or high-intensity activity—tiny microscopic tears occur in your muscle fibers. Your body responds by sending inflammatory chemicals to the area, just like it would for a bruise or minor injury.
This response is part of your body’s natural repair and strengthening process. It’s also what causes the soreness you feel.
Common symptoms include:
- Stiffness or tightness
- Dull, aching pain
- Tenderness when touched
- Reduced range of motion
Soreness can last a few days or even longer, depending on the activity and your recovery methods.
How to Reduce and Recover from Muscle Soreness
While you can’t always prevent DOMS, you can take steps to reduce its severity and support faster recovery:
- Warm up before exercise to prepare muscles for movement
- Stretch regularly to maintain flexibility and blood flow
- Cool down after activity to prevent muscle stiffness
- Use heat or cold therapy to ease inflammation and promote circulation
- Try gentle massage or foam rolling to break up tight tissue
- Avoid strenuous exercise until the soreness subsides
Recovery is essential to building strength, preventing injury, and maintaining overall well-being.
Pain Is a Part of Growth—But Suffering Doesn’t Have to Be
Muscle soreness reminds us that we’re growing. Whether it’s physical training or emotional challenges, progress often comes with discomfort. And that’s okay.
But there’s a difference between pain and suffering. Pain is temporary and often necessary. Suffering, on the other hand, comes when we ignore the root cause, prolong healing, or live out of alignment—literally and metaphorically.
Unfortunately, many people are living in a state of low-level suffering—stressed, fatigued, and disconnected. They’re not living their purpose, simply because their body isn’t functioning at its best.
At Complete Spine Solutions, our purpose is to help you fulfill yours. We do that by taking stress off your spine and nervous system—so you can live with clarity, energy, and strength.
Your Nervous System: The Engine of Purpose
Your nervous system controls everything—movement, healing, mood, and even how you process pain. When spinal misalignments (subluxations) place pressure on the spinal cord, it can interfere with nerve signals and reduce your body’s capacity to heal, recover, and perform.
Spinal stress doesn’t just cause discomfort. It limits your potential.
Through Corrective Chiropractic Care, we restore balance and function to your spine and nervous system—so you can stop merely surviving and start thriving. You’ll recover faster from soreness, move more freely, and feel more connected to your purpose.
Start with You, and Let the Rest Follow
If you’re not sure what your life’s purpose is, start here: Take care of your body. Start with your spine. Free up the power of your nervous system. Then go out and help others.
We believe this simple mindset—heal yourself, then serve humanity—can change the world. And we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Take the First Step Toward Health and Purpose
Don’t wait another day to unlock your full potential. Begin your journey with our free Personalized Nutritional Assessment—a simple way to start optimizing your health from the inside out.
Visit www.CompleteSpineSolutions.com to claim your free assessment and begin living with purpose, strength, and clarity.
