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We often hear athletes and people who are trying to get in shape say this: No pain, no gain. People say this as an excuse to shrug off pain. But they also think that they need the pain in order to gain. Is it true?
There is some truth to it. If you exercise so little that your muscles never hurt, you probably could benefit from more excercise. This pain is that stiffness that you feel the next day. Once you are in shape, you may not need this pain. Also, it is sometimes OK to play through some kinds of pain. Stopping because of minor pain may not be necessary. And to win consistently, you have to be tough. But pain is a signal that something is wrong. If you keep playing, and don't take time off, your body will not have time to heal. If you pull a muscle, suffer a sprain or strain, break a bone, or are badly bruised, then you should benefit from rest. It will heal faster. If you play through some injuries, they may never heal, and may end your athletic career.
Addendum:
I've been running lately. And I notice that after running four or five blocks, I have lost my desire to run. It's not as easy as it was at the start of my run. I'm a little out of breath, and my legs are becoming weary. I think this is the real "no pain, no gain" situation. To get more benefit with the aerobic exercise, I have to push myself to go farther. It's not really pain, much. It is more like discomfort. No discomfort, no gain. To bad that doesn't rhyme.