In this article, Dr. Williams comments that even injury-free, grueling workouts can set you back
Article Links: Is ‘No Pain, No Gain’ True, According to a Personal Trainer and Sports Neurologist – Parade
If you vowed to make fitness a focus in 2025, you’re not alone. According to a Forbes survey, 48 percent of people said “fitness” was their top priority last year.
Pain is a sign of a present or incoming injury
Pain is a warning sign that what you’re about to gain might be—to put it bluntly—a trip to the hospital.
“While ‘soreness’ or ‘discomfort’ may be part of pushing yourself and/or aggressive exertion, acute pain (particularly if it is new and has a sudden onset) should be avoided,” says Dr. Vernon B. Williams, MD, a sports neurologist and founding director of the Center for Sports Neurology and Pain Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics in Los Angeles.
Recovery is necessary
The idea that a person needs rest and recovery time to reap the benefits of a workout may seem counterintuitive, but it’s true. It allows the body to heal, Dr. Williams says, and contributes to restoration. Rest days also promote better physical and mental health, contribute to stronger muscles and lead to less soreness.
It could set you back
To emphasize those earlier points further, consider this: Exercising through pain can stop you from reaching your full potential and set you back for days, weeks or months, according to Dr. Williams.
Smith says the same. “Pushing through pain can actually cause potentially serious injuries that can completely derail your plans, which will most certainly guarantee ‘no gain.’”
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