At one time or another, everyone experiences muscle soreness, which usually sets in eight to twenty-four hours after exercise. If the discomfort is very localized, the muscle may be injured to some degree. However, all muscle soreness is not due to injury. On days when you are sore, exercise at a relaxed pace. On the following day, you will usually feel better and will be able to exercise intensely again.

A recent series of studies by Dr. William Abraham of the University of Rochester School of Medicine has shown that delayed muscle soreness is probably due to overstretching your muscle's elastic components. The elastic components is the connective tissue that holds the muscles together and gives them flexibility. When you exercise, you stress not only your muscles, but also the connective tissue that holds them together.

There is no medical treatment for soreness. Many athletes apply a liniment containing oil of wintergreen, a concentrated solution similar to aspirin. This liniment alleviates pain, but does not hasten healing.