Stiff/sore - skip a day or push on through?

KNoceros

Ok, so I now know I overdid it on my last gym visit. For various reasons I had 4 weeks off, and went back to exactly the same routine I was doing before the break. Now I am stiff and sore and bending as that I'm 83 rather than 38.... More than a bit annoyed with myself.
My question is, should I lay off the exercise until I loosen up (which I guess will be 24-48hrs) or just "man up" and get back in the gym?

quiksylver296

Exercise always helps my DOMS, too.

sgt1372

Skip it. I'm a big advocate for getting enough rest - - DOMS or not.

Allow your body time to recover. You won't regret it.

H_Ock12

I'd start with some light cardio and maybe some stretches and then increase the intensity as your body loosens up.

Chieflrg

It's really relative to how your body reacts.

If it's something that is going to possibly throw your form off because being off 4 weeks or just less experience at lifting maybe take a day.

Personally, the less my body moves the more sore I get due to joint disease so I go in and get warmed up really good regardless and I'm good to go.

You could always go in and just foam roll and do some recovery work.

lporter229

For me it would be foam rolling/stretching/yoga/pilates/light run or walk. Anything that will help to loosen up the sore muscles. But I would avoid doing whatever it was that you did yesterday.

megan_elizabeth8

If I'm really sore I won't jump straight back into strength training... missing one session is better than missing several because I injured myself. Instead I'll do some cardio. Sometimes once I've been moving for a while the soreness gets better, so I may still be able to go on with my workout after all

curlsintherack

There is a difference between stiff and sore and hurt. Its up to you but if I were just a bit sore I'd do some form of workout even if it were just to raise my pulse a bit and get some blood flowing faster.

pizzacutter4x4

moving through it, helps me get through it

smiles6428

I usually go to yoga or do some light card when I'm feeling that way. Otherwise it can be easy to break habit and make excuses for not going other times.

Spliner1969

Stretch, do some light activity or cardio and see how you feel. If you're still stiff and sore, rest the day (or two). DOMS you can work through but you can also prolong it if you don't get adequate rest for your body to repair. Try some BCAA's and some extra protein with rest.

KNoceros

It is just a DOMS, which is really rare for me.
I went and did some cardio which was fine and as many people above have said, once warm the muscles seemed to like moving. The strength work was a different matter. Even with 5kg off, it was much tougher than it should have been so I left that (for the affected muscle groups).

DopeItUp

Meh, if I skipped workouts whenever I was stiff or sore I'd basically never get any actual workouts in. Even worst case if I were really weak I'd just do a deloaded version or lower the volume.