Question for the DU doctors...

[TheMightyFavog]

I'm a Overwirgt 24 y.o male who never exeercises. In order to transfer to the Univerity I want to , I have to take a fitness course. We did a 1-mile walk fitness test on Monday morning, and my legs are still pretty sore as of this moment, Shortly after midnight on Wed, 11 Feb. Now, is this normal, or should I be making an appointment to see my doctor tomorrow?

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

1. Considering that you do not excersize, no that is not abnormal

It is concerning, but not strange. You need to walk more. 24 and 1 mile makes you sore? Bad news for long life.
But, you did not ask that question.

As long as you have feeling and circulation in your legs, and you can identify a specific incident that caused the pain, you should be okay in a day or two at most.

[TheMightyFavog]

4. The problem is..

I'll be starting a fitness program of my own design in a few weeks. I'll be going every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. If I'm going to still be hurting by the time my next session rolls around, I'm not going to be able to push myself as hard. I think I'll have to start packing Tylenol in my gym bag from now on.

[camero]

6. Not a doc but....

Take a hot compress along with your bottle of tylenol. It will increase the circulation. If it gets too bad, then take the tylenol.

You're just a little out of shape. Try riding a bike to strenghten your legs in the meantime. It will help you ease into activity.

You just went too far too soon. And stretching before your exercise helps.

[TheMightyFavog]

8. A little out of sahpe?

That's like saying that Faux News is slightly biased towards the right.

[camero]

9. ok. maybe I was exaggerating...:)

You just have to ease into activity. A mile was too far for the point you were at. The other stuff is spot on though.

[TheMightyFavog]

10. So maybe 10 or so minutes on the stationary bike then?

What the heck.

[camero]

11. That would work

and some stretching exercises before you start.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

7. Yes, it will hurt for a while, but the intervals will get shorter

and tylenol or motrin will work... or their generics...

good luck, and keep at it.

24 is way too young to be winded at 1 mile.

[LosinIt]

2. Not a doctor, but I play one online

If you have not been exercising and then do a lot, like say a one mile walk, you are usually sorest the 2nd day out. I would think that this is normal soreness from using muscles to exhaustion that have not been used very much. Try another 1.1 mile walk tomorrow. It will hurt but will hurt even less when you do the 1.2 mile walk the next day.

[GemMom]

3. What kind of a university...

makes its entrants take a fitness test?

[TheMightyFavog]

5. I phrased it wrong..

The class I took the test for is required for my degree.

[Dogmudgeon]

12. Not a Doctor, but a genuine Fat Guy!

I'm pretty physically active for a tub of lard, but when I started walking, I'd get very sore after as little as half a mile of walking.

It only took me two weeks to get up to three miles with little or no residual stiffness.

The secret is to take it slow and easy. Slow and easy is usually pretty fast for most people, when you come right down to it.

How did I handle the soreness? Hot showers and ibuprofen.

By the way, I'm 45 years old. At 25, you should have much quicker recovery. Good luck!

--bkl

[onebigbadwulf]

13. Lactic acid build up can last up to a week

if you strain muscles that aren't used to being strained.


Go to your local nutrition store and ask them about lactic acid flushing. They will most likely point you to glutamate suppliments.


This will minimize recovery time. But always remember- if your muscles are sore, you're doing something right.