Orthopedic surgeon Richard Herrick, MD, offers the following guidelines on interpreting some of the aches and pains that typically plague people in sports training.

• If it did not hurt before you started but it really hurts while you’re working out, something is wrong.  Stop what you’re doing immediately.  See a sports medicine professional.
• If it did not hurt while you were training but it hurts hours or days later, chances are it isn’t a significant problem and can be rehabbed using simple home methods.
• If it hurts when you touch it but not when you use it, it is usually nothing serious.
• If it hurts while you are using it but it’s a dull ache rather than an acute pain, it probably isn’t severe.
• If it hurts a little during the day but gets worse at night, you probably need instruction on how to rehab it.
• If it has minor swelling and only feint tenderness, it’s usually something mild.
• If it has significant swelling, assume it’s major until proven otherwise.
• It it snaps, clicks, or pops while you are training but there’s no pain associated with the sound, don’t worry about it.
• If it interferes with your sleep three or four nights in a row, it needs to be investigated.
• If it gets better while you’re working out, its probably nothing serious.

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