Ask a PT: Normal soreness or injury?

Question:

Answer:

"Normal muscle soreness usually shows up 12–48 hours after a new or challenging activity. It often feels like general stiffness or tenderness and typically improves as you move and fades within a few days. An injury is more likely if you notice sudden or sharp pain during activity, swelling, bruising, weakness, or pain that doesn’t improve after several days of rest. If pain limits your ability to move normally or continues to worsen instead of improve, it’s a good idea to have it evaluated by a physical therapist. — Marie Long, PT, COMT

Why This Matters

Understanding the difference between soreness and injury can help you stay active with confidence while also knowing when your body needs more support.

At Connect & Beyond, we focus on both:

• Repair — addressing pain or injury

• Restore — building strength and resilience so you can keep doing what you love

That’s how we help you reimagine your healthspan.

Have a question you’d like answered?

Submit it above or leave a comment below — we’d love to hear from you.