Why You Shouldn’t Fear DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness)

Ben had always feared DOMS—Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness. Whenever his muscles felt sore after a workout, he would worry that he’d hurt himself or done something wrong. “Is this normal?” Ben asked his coach one day. The coach laughed and said, “Yes! Feeling sore after a tough workout means your muscles are repairing and growing stronger.” Ben was confused. “But it hurts!” he said. “It’s okay to feel sore,” the coach explained. “It means you worked hard, but it doesn’t mean you’re injured. As long as the pain is just muscle soreness and not joint pain, you’re fine.” Ben learned that DOMS is actually a good sign. It’s the body’s way of telling you it’s repairing and growing stronger. The soreness might last a day or two, but it will go away as your muscles adapt. Ben started to stop worrying every time his muscles ached. Instead of seeing soreness as something bad, he learned to see it as a reminder of his hard work. With each workout, Ben grew stronger, and the soreness became just a part of the journey. He felt empowered knowing that muscle growth sometimes comes with a little bit of pain.