Exercise May Hurt, But Pain Can Be Bad News

It is 6:15 a.m. and you are five minutes into your first run in weeks. The temperature is perfect and the sun is just emerging, turning the sky into a stained-glass masterpiece.

- Erik Vance

NEW YORK —

Then you feel a twinge in your knee while stepping on a curb. Was there a click? It aches a little, but not badly. Maybe you are just rusty — or maybe it is the beginning of a meniscus tear. Should you push through or is your workout done?

In an ideal world, you would be able to immediately consult a doctor every time you felt pain during exercise. But in real life, you have to make judgment calls. Most of the time, you can walk it off or push through it. But other times, you risk real injury.

Everyone’s perception of pain is different, and doctors are loath to make sweeping statements that might cause someone to exacerbate an injury.

But the choices you make in the moment — or the next day — can be the difference between a temporary nuisance and a persistent problem, said Dr. Beth Darnall, an expert in pain psychology at Stanford University and a former ultramarathoner.

“It actually might not have been a big deal, but suddenly we’ve created a big deal because we pushed through an additional five miles (8km),” she said.

Pain and movement experts give tips on what to watch out for the next time your body starts to complain at the gym.

HOW TO SPOT WORRISOME PAIN

Whether you are playing a pick-up game or running a marathon, there are a few key signs to consider when you feel pain during exercise.