Do I have to wait for DOMS to go away before training again?

KelseyRL
KelseyRL Posts: 124 Member
edited November 24 in Fitness and Exercise
I just started working out again after a long time away. I did lower body on Friday, Upper body on Sunday, and want to do full body on Tuesday, but I'm still sore from the previous workouts.

Do you have to wait until you're fully recovered from DOMS, or can you workout again even if you're a little bit sore. I did take a proper rest day between each workout and did a good cool-down and stretching routine after each one.

Replies

  • gearhead426hemi
    gearhead426hemi Posts: 919 Member
    Just depends on your pain threshold. I get really bad DOMS after long runs or bike rides and it seems to help when I do a light leg workout when I am really sore.
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    There's no need to wait. If you can handle it, you can work through DOMS.
  • AllanMisner
    AllanMisner Posts: 4,140 Member
    No, you can workout with DOMS. In fact, you might find working helps reduce the pain (at least while you're working). Most muscles need 48 to 72 hours to recover from the work (provided you're eating adequate protein). Your split should allow proper recovery.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    If the DOMS is so bad that you think you cannot perform adequately, you can wait and do something lighter. Otherwise go for it.
  • firef1y72
    firef1y72 Posts: 1,579 Member
    When I get DOMs (which is pretty often with the amount and variety of activities I do), being active and doing something is generally the best way to deal with it. When my legs are particularly sore I find that although it can hurt while doing it, a short run works wonders at easing them off. So as long as it's aching rather than a sharp pain I'd say go for it.
  • KelseyRL
    KelseyRL Posts: 124 Member
    Thanks for the replies everyone! I went ahead and did my full body this morning! I wasn't so sore that I was in extreme pain or anything, I just wanted to make sure that it didn't increase your chance of injury if you workout while a bit sore. All in all the workout went great!
  • PowerliftingMom
    PowerliftingMom Posts: 430 Member
    Do you stretch BEFORE your workouts? Since I started stretching both before and after and walking on the treadmill, I can't remember the last time I was sore! And I lift heavy (Heavy squats/bench and light deadlifts 1x/week, heavy deadlifts, light squat and bench 1x/week plus one day of upper and one day of lower workouts and I'm old lol
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