Is it normal to feel aches and pains after working out?
It is common to feel slightly sore after a workout; sometimes, the worked-out muscles even feel warm. However, sharp or intense pain that starts during or immediately after exercise or lasts more than three to four days would require immediate medical attention. It is also advisable to see a doctor if the pain is associated with warning signs such as: • clicking sounds when limbs are straightened and bent; • a locking, jammed sensation at the joints; • instability, such as knees buckling or giving way; and, • swelling; this is more obvious in a knee and ankle, but not so much in a hip joint. If you have not exercised in a while, it is important to ease into it; doing too much activity too quickly can place considerable stress on the joints and lead to injury. During and after lockdown, I have seen a surge in sports injuries involving the muscles and joints. With more flexible work hours, many people have gone from sedentary to active lifestyles too quickly. Many people also often have to change their exercise environments due to gym closures. This change in environment may lead to injuries such as joint and muscle sprains from uneven ground or other obstacles that are not usually found in a controlled gym space. Such changes in exercise intensity, regime and environment have generally increased the risk of sports injuries. Seeking early treatment for a sports injury can help you avoid further complications and unnecessarily long downtime. Your orthopaedic specialist can make an accurate diagnosis through consultation and scans. Although minor sports injuries can be managed with a combination of RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation), physiotherapy, topical and/or oral medications, more serious sports injuries would require further treatments such as keyhole surgeries. Keyhole surgeries are minimally invasive, which means faster (i.e. same day) recovery back to your normal life.
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