Should I Keep Exercising If I Feel Pain?

Exercise and Pain Management

As a physiotherapist who works with both general clients and athletes, I get this question almost every week:

"If I feel pain while I exercise, should I push through or stop?"

The answer isn't as simple as "yes" or "no." Pain is complex, and not all pain means harm. Let me walk you through how we understand this today — based on the latest research and years of working with people just like you.

Pain vs. Discomfort: Knowing the Difference

When you train — whether it's running, lifting weights, or rehabbing an injury — you'll experience sensations that range from mild fatigue to outright pain. Distinguishing these matters:

Muscle burn or fatigue

That "burning" during exercise is usually lactic acid build-up. It's uncomfortable, but not harmful.

DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness)

The ache you feel 24–72 hours after new or intense exercise. It's common, and the body adapts over time.

Sharp, stabbing, or joint pain

This is not normal. It's often a red flag for overload, poor mechanics, or an underlying injury.

Understanding these differences is the first step in deciding whether to continue or pause.

What the Science Says

Here's what high-quality evidence tells us:

In chronic musculoskeletal pain, some studies show that exercising into mild pain can actually help reduce symptoms in the long term. It seems to retrain the nervous system and improve tolerance.
Exercise itself can lower overall pain sensitivity — your body becomes less reactive to painful input when it's trained in a graded, progressive way.
Importantly, pushing through severe or worsening pain rarely helps and often leads to setbacks.

So the message is: mild, manageable discomfort can sometimes be okay — but sharp or escalating pain is not.

When to Stop Immediately

If you notice any of these, pause and reassess:

Sudden, sharp, or stabbing pain
Pain that worsens as you keep going
Numbness, tingling, or weakness
Pain that lingers and interferes with daily life
Visible swelling, heat, or instability in a joint
Chest pain or shortness of breath

In these cases, continuing is more likely to harm than help.

Expert Guidance at M7LW

Navigating pain during exercise requires individual assessment and a tailored approach. At M7LW Physiotherapy & Lifestyle Wellness, we help you understand your pain, develop safe exercise strategies, and progress at the right pace for your body.

📍 Visit us at M7LW, Anna Nagar, Chennai, or reach out to schedule an appointment and get personalized guidance on exercising safely with pain.

Categories: Exercise Therapy, Pain Management, Sports Rehabilitation Tags: #exercise, #painmanagement, #sportsrehab