Knowledge base

Exercise Safety - listening to your body

We're sure you've heard of the phrase, "no pain, no gain". While hard work pays off, not listening to your body can be harmful. Many muscle injuries are from incorrect training. Below we list signs and symptoms that show you may be training incorrectly. Recovery days are essential in between trainings.

Muscle soreness after exercise is normal, but it isn’t always felt right away. Soreness commonly ranges from starting within several hours after exercise to 1-2 days after exercise (this is known as delayed onset muscle soreness). However, sharp pain is not a normal part of exercising (See Muscle Soreness 'Pain' Versus Sharp Pain in the Knowledge Base).

If you feel sharp pain or if something "feels off" when exercising, take a break, and check that your movement is well controlled (See Making Movement post to learn more). If you are having trouble with controlling your movement try a smaller movement to lessen the demand on your body. If you still have pain after these modifications, call your doctor.

Be aware of other symptoms or sensations you may feel when exercising, as some could be signs of health conditions that require medical attention. If you experience any of the following, please call your doctor:

  • Dizziness, light headedness or feeling faint
  • Chest pain, jaw pain, upper or middle back pain
  • An irregular, rapid, or fluttery heartbeat
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Nausea
  • Shakiness, tingling lips, whole body weakness (In particular, if you have diabetes)