Do you believe in ‘no pain, no gain’ in exercising?
You’ve probably heard it many times: “No pain, no gain”. Fitness influencers on social media are quick to promote a world where you have to work out to achieve your goals. But how hard is too hard?
The truth is that you’ll never hear a professional athletic trainer recommend pain to get gains. On the contrary, experts warn about the “no pain, no gain” myth.
What does “no pain, no gain” mean?
Gym-goers have been using this saying for a long time to motivate them to keep pushing through hard workouts. Many gym-goers believe that if you are not feeling pain in your muscles, you are not working hard enough to get physical results.
The belief is the following: You have to exercise until you feel pain and then through the pain to build up the endurance and toughness required to grow stronger muscles.
Is that true?
The problem with “no pain, no gain”
Pain is a signal your brain sends to let your body know that it is time to stop. Pain is linked to many causes, but one thing is certain: The brain isn’t trying to test your toughness. Its giving you a warning signal.
When you ignore the sensation of pain, you put your body at risk. Pushing forward even when you are very hurt can cause you harm. It can cause serious injuries. It is very useful to know what triggers the signal and what you should do when it occurs.
Why do I feel pain when exercising?
Pain means that there is something wrong with the current exercise. But it could be linked to your overall fitness level at the time or even your posture. The sooner you understand where the issue comes from, the sooner you can react to it accordingly.
Pain signals that you are doing the same exercise too often. It can cause injury if you continue to do the same exercise all the time. This could lead to muscle strains or fractures in severe situations. Varying the exercises you do and paying attention to what your body is telling you can help prevent this from happening.
If you are suffering from severe pain when doing a movement, such as lifting heavy weights, you may be not doing it correctly; for example, if you have a backache while lifting heavy weights, you may be lifting heavy weights with a rounded back. If you use a professional personal trainer, you will eventually have the right posture. Pain can be your indicator that your performance is improper, for example, lifting weights with a rounded back.
Even though pain may help you challenge yourself, it does not mean you must keep going if you continue to suffer pain. When you feel pain, your brain is telling you to stop doing what you are doing.
Muscle soreness vs. pain
People often think that they’re experiencing muscle soreness when in fact it is pain they are feeling. People develop sore muscles, or delayed onset muscle soreness, which is a natural response to any challenging routine. It can be uncomfortable but typically disappears after a rest period. Soreness affects the whole area you’ve trained.
Some people only feel pain when they are trying to move or press certain muscles. This pain is more local and can be very sharp. It can limit your range of motion. It usually only appears when you do certain movements or when you apply certain pressure points to your body. Additionally, it can be accompanied by swelling, an inflammation response, or even bruising. This type of pain is indicative of a risk of injury or an existing injury. It is very important that you stop doing what you are doing when you feel pain.
Are you are trying to get fit, but are enduring constant pain? It may be helpful to talk to your doctor about whether you may have any injuries or weaknesses. You can also focus on learning proper postures and techniques with corrective personal training.
Want more information on getting fit and healthy naturally? Future Fitness in Fort Worth, TX, has a dedicated team of experts providing personal training and corrective training to help people achieve their fitness goals as painlessly as possible.