So I decided to try a new workout routine for a while, changes things up a bit...its a routine I saw in Men's Fintess, it looked interesting so I thought I'd give it a whirl. Long story short, it kicked my ASS!! I did the first (of 3) workouts on monday evening, and here it is wednesday morning and I'm still stiff in the shoulders and lower back from it.

It's nothing I couldnt work through, just a little stiff and sore...the workout was.....unique.....worked a lot of muscle in a short time with very little weight.

anyway, my question is, should I work through it, or give it another day of rest till I'm all healed up?

thanks!

I'm still stiff in the shoulders and lower back from it.

the workout was.....unique.....worked a lot of muscle in a short time with very little weight.

should I work through it, or give it another day of rest till I'm all healed up?

Somewhere, I suppose from experience, I know a joint/bone/tendon pain from a muscle pain. In muscle pain, I know normal from sprained muscle pain. Normal being that, that comes from new workouts or over doing a workout. I am lucky.

We have learned to a degree how to relate pain to others. We say sharp, stabbing, dull, deep, etc. If you think about it, that is the only thing you can tell a doctor. A book and PBS program tells what doctors have to find out from patients - The Body In Question.

Anyway, you have to make decision. Do a few movements affecting the muscles in question with out weights, do about 10-20 reps. Is the pain sharper or does it tend to go away a bit. if it lessens, I would work out. If it cause you to draw in your breath quickly, I would give it a couple of days.

I think a general rule is the injury that counts is the one that comes on during movement and is immediate and remains. One that come on after the movements are usually ones you can work out. Lactic acid build up.

anyway, my question is, should I work through it, or give it another day of rest till I'm all healed up?

Since figuring out how to attain reasonable progress with the meager genetics nature gave me, I've personally found that it's best for me not to work a muscle group until the previous workout's effects have been eliminated. For me, that recovery time varies - three days for lighter workouts, up to five for untouched, neglected, or muscle groups I just feel like blasting.

I think you could be setting yourself up for injury if you don't let a muscle group recover completely before subjecting it to further stress.

-R

I always err on the side of rest. If I'm sore, I don't work that body part -- growth happens when you are resting -- If you aren't healed up yet, your workouts will be counterproductive and you may undo what gains you would have had.