We have probably all heard the phrase “no pain, no gain” and well…it’s actually true.  Some muscle pain, usually experience a day or two after the workout, is a true sign the muscles got used.  Muscle workouts use heavy weights to exhaust the muscle in order to grow back bigger and stronger.  The more times you lift that heavy weight, it is going to tire the muscle and eventually hurt.  The pain is caused by microscopic tears that occur in the muscle when your workout was intense enough to break down the muscle tissue.  When given proper time to repair itself, it then grows back even stronger.

Just because you wake up with some muscle pain after a hard workout one day does not mean you should sit through your next workout.  The more you workout those same sore muscles, the less they will continue to be sore after future workouts.  You can alternate which muscle groups you work on certain days as to not strain your entire body.  Stretching exercises before and after workouts are great ways to prevent most muscle pain and soreness.  To relieve muscle soreness and any inflammation, alternate putting ice and heat on the area.  Epsom salt baths, a hot shower or massage can also help.