Final answer:
Muscle strain and soreness are more likely if a proper warm-up and stretching are not performed before exercise. Muscle strains, tendinitis, and overuse injuries can occur, which can be treated with the PRICE method and rest. Adequate recovery and varying exercise routines are essential to prevent injury.
Step-by-step explanation:
Muscle strain and soreness are more likely to occur if individuals do not perform proper warm-ups and stretching before engaging in physical activity. A muscle strain involves the tearing of muscle fibers, often due to overstretching, and can vary in severity. Strains can lead to symptoms like pain, stiffness, and bruising, with hamstring strains being a common example, especially among athletes. Tendinitis, which is the irritation of the tendons, occurs when they are over-extended or worked excessively without proper rest. Both conditions can be treated using the PRICE method (protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation) and possibly anti-inflammatory medications like NSAIDs.
Improper resistance training can also lead to overuse injuries including tendon damage and skeletal damage. Such injuries may result from excessive loads or insufficient recovery time between workouts. During resistance training, proper joint alignment is crucial in preventing these injuries. Cellular damage to muscle fibers, which contributes to soreness experienced after intense exercise, is typically repaired over time, leading to muscle mass gain. However, continuous overexertion without adequate rest can exacerbate muscle damage.
Moreover, rest and recovery are vital to prevent injuries and ensure the body responds well to exercise. Alternating activities, like swimming to rest running muscles, can help avoid overworking the same muscle groups. Remember, DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) is associated with tiny tears in muscle fibers from intense activity levels. It is crucial to manage exercise intensity and provide the body with adequate recovery to mitigate these effects.