Muscular pain is a common side effect of beginning an exercise program, but that isn't the only thing that can cause your muscles to hurt. There are literally hundreds of potential causes for muscular pain in different areas of your body, and you should certainly talk to your doctor if you are suffering from chronic, or long-term, pain. If your pain is the result of a change in your lifestyle or activity level, you can expect it to get better over time.
Overuse or Injury
The U.S. National Institutes of Health report that the most common cause of muscle pain is overuse or injury usually caused by exercise or labor-intensive work. This kind of pain can usually be felt during or immediately after stopping the activity that is causing your overuse. If you push your muscles too far, you can injure them by causing a strain, stretch or tear in the muscular tissue that may require medical attention. If you are suffering from a more moderate or minor pain, you may find that it goes away after your body gets accustomed to the activity. If it doesn't go away after two or three weeks you may want to check with your doctor.
Disease
Illness can also cause aching muscles, according to doctors at MayoClinic.com. Some of the more common illnesses that are known to cause muscular pain include the common flu, chronic fatigue syndrome, Lyme Disease, fibromyalgia and lupus. Most sufferers of this kind of pain are aware that it is being caused by a disease due to their other symptoms. It is often necessary to see a doctor if your pain is caused by an illness or disease, since some of these can be very serious if not treated right away.
Mineral Imbalance
Another cause of muscle pain commonly manifests itself in the form of muscular cramps, according to doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Most athletes have had the misfortune to suffer a painful muscular cramp while exercising, and these are often caused by an electrolyte imbalance. The most common culprits for this kind of muscular pain include an imbalance in the levels of potassium, calcium and/or sodium. Drinking a sports drink that contains high levels of electrolytes can often mitigate the occurrence of these painful muscle cramps.
