Exercise Questions, please help!

[JinxieKat]

I've never been a big one on regular exercise. I do enjoy my clogging class once a week and I do enjoy getting on my bike and riding when the mood strikes me, but I've never stuck to anything on a regular basis. So.. I got a rebounder, I'm enjoying the heck out of bouncing. As a computer tater I expect to be sore.. and I am. I'm noticing that if I still do the exercise about half way through the workout most of my aches from tight muscles disappear and everything is good. I know that the rebounder can be a bear, so I'm keeping it down to a 10 minute basic workout until I get used to it.

Soo.. my question is.. how do you know when you rest because of pain and when you should just push through it? I have to admit, doing rebounding and making myself do it feels good. I am sore in the morning, but that feeling of everything lossening up durning the exercise and just doing it is awsome! I have had problems with my calf muscles in the past and I don't want to injure myself, but I'm thinking I may have been too cautious in the past.. if that makes sence. So worried that a bit of pain is a bad thing. Normally I would have stopped after the first night to give myself a break with the tightness/ache in my calf muscles. The next day it would be worse, then the third day a bit better, and it would be the forth or fifth day before they felt normal again. With just doing the exercise and working through it I'm not getting any worse like I normally do. Actually the second day was better than the first. Wow! I was shocked, pleasently so. :D

I can tell the difference between achyness and a true injury. But I don't want to risk an injury either.. does that make sence? I hope so! I'm just looking for some personal experiences from others so I can compare my experiences to those, learn to listen to my body, and make good judgements as I exercise.

Thanks!

Jinx

[Draginvry]

the difference between achyness and a true injury.

Technically, achyness is an injury. You are causing minor tears and stretches to the muscle. That's what causes it to be sore. But it will heal up stronger than it was before.

You will know if you've overworked your muscles, because they will either become uncomfortable, or they will interfere with your ability to do everyday tasks.

[JinxieKat]

My problem is that I don't always know that I have overworked or not. I am dealing with a recuring problem with the calf muscles in my legs where they tighten up to the point I cannot straighten my legs or put my feet flat on the floor. Sometimes exercise will trigger it, sometimes it just happens. Needless to say it has made me a bit leary of any pain in that area. I cannot afford to be out of work anymore this year. If I go just by uncomfortable, well heck my daily activites can cause that unfortunately. *shrug* Guess I'm just trying to get a feel of what folks think is acceptable achyness to work through and what isn't.

Jinx

[Draginvry]

I am dealing with a recuring problem with the calf muscles in my legs where they tighten up to the point I cannot straighten my legs or put my feet flat on the floor.

It sounds like you aren't stretching properly.

[JinxieKat]

I'm pretty careful about warming up, exerciseing, then cooling down and streching while I cool down. I took dance for years so it is a habit for me. I pay particular attention to my calves these days, sometimes it helps.. sometimes it doesn't.

Jinx

[codajess]

Muscle fatigue, and a little soreness the next day is good; PAIN is not. You're the best person to know your limits. If you feel you may be doing too much, then do just a little each day, and build up your tolerance. If you are ever in pain, don't exercise again until the pain dissipates.

Rebounding, or any kind of jumping is kind of hard on the calves, and causes them to cramp up pretty easily because you're constantly on your toes, and pushing up. I know exactly what you're talking about. Whenever I rebound or do any kind of constant jumping, i have to stop kind of often, and flex my toes/feet up to reverse the tension from jumping so much and keeping my calf muscles contracted so long.

It's kind of like when you're lying down and you stretch just a little too long and get a charley horse.You have to flex your foot up the other way to stop it. It's essentially the same thing.

[Devcon]

Great information

[lafille]

just a passer-by :) work in the medical field. there is a certain type of condition that brings on such symptoms as you made mention. if you're out of work due to pain-go have it checked out with an ortho doc. otherwise i suggest you follow the above individuals responses. we all have some manner of pain we get through our daily lives-it's a normal part of aging. just be careful-do your stretches-and if it's so unbearable that you can't function on an everyday level-see your doc.
Regards