The Difference Between Pain And Soreness

We’re in the business of pain relief so if you’re looking for a “physio near me”, you’re in the right place. Of course, what you think is pain might actually be soreness. Yes, there is a difference between the two but you should get yourself checked out regardless.

Soreness is a feeling of discomfort that we humans can generally tolerate. It’s usually a reaction to the physical stresses we place on the body; if the physical exertion is more strenuous than you are used to, or if you are using muscles you usually don’t, or if you are returning to physical activity after a substantial lay-off, then you can expect muscle soreness to occur as a result. These are the signs that you are experiencing typical muscle soreness:

• Your muscles are tender to the touch.
• There is a feeling of tightness in the muscles
• You may experience a slight burning sensation when you move
• When you gently move and stretch the muscles the soreness decreases
• Soreness peaks and then subsides some 24 to 72 hours after physical activity

Muscular soreness is normal and is to be expected after you exercise, particularly after you really push yourself. It’s recommended that in the days following exercise, and if you are feeling sore, then you should concentrate on working different muscle groups, do some gentle stretching and even take a warm bath in Epsom salt baths.

While soreness is a normal reaction to physical exertion, pain is a totally different story. It can be an excruciating sign that you’ve done yourself an injury. These are the signs to look for:

• Pain comes on sharply or suddenly while you’re doing an activity.
• The discomfort lasts longer than than 72 hours and shows no sign of subsiding.
• Gentle movement or stretching makes the pain worse
• The pain lingers even after a significant period of rest

When you notice these signs then you have probably suffered an injury of some kind. Don’t tough it out and think it’s a sign of weakness to acknowledge that you are in pain. By ignoring it and telling all and sundry that it’s simply a case of muscle soreness then you can do yourself an even more serious injury.  This “it will be right, mate” attitude is very prevalent in New Zealand society and can have long-lasting consequences. Pain is your body’s way of telling you something isn’t right, so please…listen to your body, for once!

If you are suffering extreme pain or if it doesn’t subside within a few days, you should make an appointment to see us. The sooner we can access your situation, the sooner we can start a course of treatment that will get you out of pain and back to your favorite activities. Of course, the line between soreness and pain can sometimes be a little blurred so you can play it safe and contact us regardless of how much discomfort you’re in.