Should I workout if my muscles are sore?

Question

How many days should pass for your muscles to rest?

RingOfFire · Accepted Answer

Depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

If you are just trying to stay in shape, like I am these days, every other day, 3 or 4 days a week is a good routine for lifting or other muscle intensive workouts. You can work different body parts each day in the week. And you can do cardio on alternate days. That gives the muscles recovery and rebuilding time.

If you are training for sports or competitive lifting or body building, that's a whole different routine. Sometimes its necessary to push past the soreness.

You have to get to know your limits.

A moderate amount of soreness is one thing. Beginners especially will always experience this as will people who have gone for a while without working out. But never work out if you feel pain or that something might not be right. Let it rest and see if it gets better. If not see a doctor.

Chazmatazz269 · Accepted Answer

Yes! That’s the best time!
Depending on what you’re trying to achieve. I usually did heavy weight and low reps on day 1. Day two, low weight high reps with a focus on controlling form.
If you’re not interested in bulking, just reverse the order and keep the “heavy” weights middling, but still keep your reps low.
It’s that sore period when your muscles are rebuilding. Shocking them with more sets puts them into overdrive. I had friends accuse me of juicing i bulked up so fast. Ell oh ell!

desidoll · Accepted Answer

What is your routine like if you don’t mind sharing? After a big workout like leg day, you need at least 48 hours of recovery, provided you consume enough protein and stay hydrated. In between of this time you could do arms or maybe moderate cardio.

CrabCakes11 · Accepted Answer

It’s fine to work out while sore as long as you don’t overwork your muscles.

avery58 · Answer

As long as you aren't super sore or something, and also we should always push ourselves during a workout but not more than you can handle so just be careful and if you feel you have to stop then stop. Maybe start at a moderate pace and see if you can pick up.

When I got my first job I was always sore by the end of my shift and especially the morning after because I wasn't used to being on my feet and walking for 8 hours, but after working out the soreness actually went away and I felt much more energetic by the end of the workout.

woody · Answer

Soreness is like the lovechild of progress and pain. It’s your muscles whispering (or sometimes screaming), “Hey, we’re growing here!” But does that mean you should hit the weights again when you feel like a walking bruise? Not necessarily.

You’ve just had a leg day that left you questioning all your life choices. Your quads feel like they’ve been hit by a truck, and stairs have become your arch-nemesis. Jumping back into another intense leg session isn’t just overkill—it’s like trying to sprint on a tightrope. You’re asking for a fall, and trust me, the pavement’s unforgiving.

Soreness is your muscles reacting to stress. They’ve got microscopic tears, and those need time to repair. Think of it like baking a cake; you wouldn’t cut into it before it’s fully baked, right? Same goes for muscles—they need time to rise and set.

Sonorous · Answer

I wouldn't recommend it. Most likely you'd be better off working out when not sore. Less prone to injury for sure. But a good rule of thumb I go by is, if I've given a muscle group 48hours to heal & it's still sore, I'm gonna workout but I'm gonna go easier & really focus on speeding up recovery in other ways if I can.

D_Bone_Steak · Answer

Yes... The muscles adapt. Although unlike running where you can do the same damn thing everyday, I would suggest you do a split if you're lifting. Push-Pull-Legs and then repeat. Also... the latest science says optimal lifting isn't doing a shit ton of sets per week on a single muscle. I'll talk more if you need more info... but I'll shut the fuck up for now.

Levin · Answer

Depends what you're trying to achieve.

If I can do 10 pullups in a set.

And then the next day my pulling muscles are fatigued, and I can only do 7 pullups in a set. Then obviously I need at least one day before I can produce the same or more output.

I don't work out unless I can match or beat in strength my last workout.

Static_In_The_Attic · Answer

If your body is hurting it’s telling you something & if your muscles are sore take a little break. On the flip side, no pain, no gain. Take it easy.

liggang · Answer

Yes but only if it's a little sore. If you're still crazy sore than no. But if it's not a lot than it's OK. Sometimes that happens but you shouldn't miss a day just to be sure you're 100% not sore.

TommyMountainFigure · Answer

As long as they need. There is no point in risking injury which will put you out of action for much longer. No, instead rest them until you can do light exercise and build up slowly from there.

LazerBean · Answer

You can still work out, but work out muscles that are not sore. Give the store ones time to heal before you work them out again

dustybiker2 · Answer

Rotate exercises. Don't do the same thing every day. And if sore don't push them, do something else: it's your body's warning system. Best listen.

pascal_climbs · Answer

Depends on the workout. A light workout, low level cardio like, can be useful to eliminate all traces of lactic acid. Avoid a heavy workout since that will have a negative influence on recovery

exitseven · Answer

You can work different body parts if you are ery sore. If it is just DOMS you should workout anyway. Just make sure you warm up.

JamesRandiDebates · Answer

Rest time after a workout for the majority of people is between 24 to 72 hours. If you are still sore from your previous workout you're not going to make any progress by working out again. You're just overtraining.

Anonymous · Answer

I wish men would work on their personality more that this meaningless time-wasting.

Kingofkings1992 · Answer

You can just work on a separate muscle group

electromagnetic · Answer

Yup. That’s probably to offset the DOMs

strateguy632 · Answer

you must wait.

The_Sexpert · Answer

Nope that would be overtraining

mistershy94 · Answer

I'd say until they're not sore?

Iron_Man · Answer

Yes unless you’re super sore

jahaims · Answer

You are supposed to rotate muscle groups

FuqUFggt · Answer

No. Healing sore muscles is how they grow.

litty736 · Answer

I dont think it's a good idea

In_Trance · Answer

That depends on what your workout goals are

laly520 · Answer

bad idea to push it

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