Condition
Muscle soreness (DOMS)
The achy, tender muscles that appear a day or two after unfamiliar or intense exercise.
See a clinician
Some causes of muscle soreness (doms) need medical care, not self-treatment. Seek help for any of these:
- Severe swelling with dark/cola-colored urine after intense exercise (possible rhabdomyolysis)
- Pain from a sudden 'pop' or that prevents movement
What may help
Remedies studied for muscle soreness (doms), ranked by strength of evidence.
- B Tart cherry supplement
Aids recovery of muscular strength and power after hard exercise and modestly reduces soreness and some inflammatory markers.
- C Menthol (topical) chemical
A cooling counter-irritant that gives short-term relief of muscle and musculoskeletal pain; evidence is limited and effects are modest.
DOMS is a normal part of training and resolves on its own. Some recovery aids have modest evidence for easing soreness and restoring strength a little faster.