21/10/2025
New blog alert! Please use the links in my bio to read more or to book an appointment! DOMS or injury? How to tell the difference after a tough workout 💪
You smashed that new gym class, went for your first run in ages, or finally tackled that garden project. The next day… your thighs feel like concrete and your shoulders complain with every reach. Is it just normal soreness — or have you actually injured something?
This is where DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) comes in. DOMS is your body adapting to new demands — totally normal, even healthy. It usually:
✨ Starts 12–24 hours after exercise
✨ Peaks at 24–72 hours
✨ Fades over 3–7 days
It feels like a dull, general ache that eases with gentle movement. Both sides might ache (hello, sore quads after squats!), but things improve day by day. Keep moving lightly, stay hydrated, and don’t panic — it’s part of getting stronger.
An injury, though, tells a different story:
⚡ Sharp, sudden pain during activity
⚡ Swelling or bruising soon after
⚡ Pain that doesn’t improve or even worsens with rest
⚡ Trouble lifting, walking, or bearing weight
If that sounds familiar, your body needs more than rest — it needs assessment and a recovery plan.
As a GOsC-registered osteopath at JJB Osteopath in Angel and Osteopath West in Ealing, I help people figure out which is which every week. Osteopathy can ease soreness, improve mobility, and guide safe return to training — whether you’re dealing with DOMS or a strain.
👉 Gentle movement, sleep, hydration, and smart training habits = your best recovery tools.
👉 Sharp, escalating, or localised pain? Time to get it checked.
Need help telling the difference or getting back to pain-free movement?
Book an appointment at jjbosteopath.co.uk — let’s get you moving comfortably again.