delayed-onset muscle soreness

Clinical manifestations

• muscle pain (mylagias) that develops 24-48 hours after exercise
• weakness, tenderness, stiffness & swelling may be noted
  • mild, diffuse tenderness of calf muscles
• pain peaks 1-3 days after inciting activity with resolution in 7 days

Differential diagnosis

• muscle strain causes pain at the time of injury or shortly thereafter
• shin splints causes pain during exercise, improves with rest, & is associated with tenderness along the lower medial tibia
• stress fractures are associated with pain with activity & bone tenderness at the site of fracture
• compartment syndrome is associated with increasing pain in a specific area during exercise, developing shortly after initiation of exercise; pain with passive stretching of the foot or toes; pain resolve with rest afte a delay

More general terms

• myalgia (muscle pain)