DOMSDelayed-Onset Muscle Soreness
The muscle soreness that appears a day or two after unfamiliar or hard exercise.
DOMS (Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness) is the muscle pain and stiffness that peaks roughly 24–72 hours after exercise, especially after unaccustomed training or a lot of lengthening (eccentric) work.
It matters mainly as a point of confusion: DOMS is not a reliable measure of a workout's effectiveness, and its absence does not mean a session was wasted. Soreness reflects novelty and damage more than growth stimulus.
In practice, DOMS fades as you adapt to a movement; managing it is about sensible progression rather than chasing or avoiding soreness.
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Written and reviewed by Mathew Beale — MSc Biotechnology, University of Reading.
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