If your discomfort is mild, you can continue to exercise. But if you have substantial pain with exertion, stop exercising and consult your doctor.

Muscle soreness after exercise can be immediate (acute) or delayed. Typically, it occurs during or after an increase in intensity, frequency or duration of exercise. Muscle soreness usually results from the buildup of energy waste products, such as lactic acid, in the muscle. In most cases, this type of soreness subsides with a few minutes of rest — after which you can resume your exercise.

Certain types of strength training, such as those which emphasize lengthening muscles, are more likely to result in muscle soreness. Soreness usually decreases after two weeks of consistent exercise and your muscle accommodates the increased stimulus. To reduce this soreness:

• Avoid working the same muscle group on consecutive days
• Add low-intensity exercise, such as walking, to your workout

Delayed muscle soreness and stiffness after aerobic or strength training exercise may also result from microscopic tears in muscle fibers. This is why it's important to make gradual increases in intensity, duration and frequency of exercise.

Treatment of muscle soreness may include:

• Icing the affected area
• Using over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen