3. DOMS
DOMS is what we know as ‘delayed onset muscle soreness’. This is the specific type of muscle pain that you experience after lifting heavyweights in the gym. This is not caused by an injury, but simply the act of exerting yourself.
There is a lot of debate in the literature as to the nature of DOMS. Some people believe that DOMS is necessary in order for muscle growth to occur. Other people believe it is neither necessary nor desirable. Then there are theories about what causes DOMS. While some say it is the build-up of metabolites, others suggest that DOMS is caused by inflammation.
One way to reduce DOMS is to focus on exercises that involve no eccentric movement – only concentric. In other words, this means using an exercise that involves only shortening and not lengthening the muscle. That prevents the tiny microtears which may play an important role in hypertrophy, but certainly, play a big role in inflammation and muscle pain.