Doms Doms Dom!!!!

I have posted on this topic before, but as it turns out there is a term for it, DOMS.

What the heck am I talking about?

Well those who do any resistance training will have experienced it at some point, and those serious to the sport of body building will crave this, because they know they did good on their workout the days before.

I'm talking Delayed Onset Muscle Sorness. Wiki explains it as such; Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), also called muscle fever, is the pain and stiffness felt in muscles several hours to days after unaccustomed or strenuous exercise. The soreness is felt most strongly 24 to 72 hours after the exercise. It is caused by eccentric exercise. After such exercise, the muscle adapts rapidly to prevent muscle damage, and thereby soreness, if the exercise is repeated.

So top tips for making that ache more of a friend then a foe? Here are 3!
1.Nutrition!!! After a resistance training session, eat good protein and complex carbs. These will ensure your muscles have the fuel to start repairing straight away. If you want an easy option here, perhaps it is not time for a meal after your workout, have a protein shake.
2.Massage. From some gentle rubbing to a deep tissue massage, before you get sore and in they days after. A good massage can make you feel better, as you stimulate the blood flow in the muscles, purging them and allowing temporary relief.
3.Stretching. Many of us do it, we DON'T stretch. But we should. A light stretch before the workout, targeting the areas you are going to hit, will help. Along with a cool down and stretch after the workout session. Then in the days after, some gentle stretching.

So as much as you might feel like a bag of dropped spuds in those days after, remember that this is your body telling you, you did something right the day before!!