Why your workout leaves you feeling like used Play-Doh

September is self-improvement month, and that time of year when we get back into our routine with school, work, and working out. But if you spent more of your summer playing outside then hitting the gym you may find those first few workouts hurt more than you remember. What causes this muscle soreness?

When you first start a new exercise routine you’re often using muscles you haven’t used, or haven’t used in that way before. Just like a new car, it takes our muscles time to adjust to use. That feeling of soreness we get the next day is called Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness.

Imagine your muscles are like a new batch of Play-Doh. When you first take it out of the container it’s fresh, and in a nice shape, but then you stretch it, shape it, and it breaks and tears. Your muscles do the same thing as you work out. Microscopic tears form, which can then become inflamed and leave you feeling sore.

But the good news is, that feeling of soreness is a good thing. Just like that new Play-Doh which gets more flexible the more you play with it,  your muscles are slowly becoming more flexible and stronger. So even though you may not feel like you can’t offer a decent handshake, you’re doing great.

Try these tips to help avoid muscle soreness, and make that new workout routine effective for you!