Published on: 6/20/2025
Why do my inner thighs hurt after a workout?
Your inner thighs might hurt after a workout due to delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), which happens when muscles are worked harder than usual. This soreness is not caused by lactic acid but by small muscle tears and inflammation.
Explanation
After a workout, especially if you are using muscles more than usual, you might feel pain in your inner thighs. This is called delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). It usually happens when muscles are not used to the exercise or when the intensity is higher than normal.
Causes of DOMS:
- Muscle Tears: When you exercise, tiny tears can happen in your muscles. Your body then works to fix these tears, which can cause soreness.
- Inflammation: As your body repairs these tears, inflammation can occur, leading to pain and swelling.
What about Lactic Acid?
- Lactic acid is not the reason for this soreness. It is a common misconception, but the soreness you feel is more about the muscle damage and the body’s response to it.
DOMS is a normal part of exercise, especially when trying new activities or increasing intensity. It usually goes away after a few days as your muscles get stronger and more used to the activity.
(References)
- Cheung K, Hume P, & Maxwell L. (2003). Delayed onset muscle soreness : treatment strategies and .... Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 12617692.
- Schwane JA, Watrous BG, Johnson SR, & Armstrong RB. (1983). Is Lactic Acid Related to Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness?. The Physician and sportsmedicine, 27409551.
- Raastad T, Risoy BA, Benestad HB, Fjeld JG, & Hallen J. (2003). Temporal relation between leukocyte accumulation in .... Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985), 12832432.
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