Your upper left arm may hurt after exercise primarily due to overuse, which is a common cause of arm pain.
Understanding Overuse Injuries
One of the most common causes of arm pain is overuse. This means that repetitive motions, excessive strain, or pushing your muscles and joints beyond their current capacity during exercise can lead to pain and discomfort. When you exercise, you are constantly working the muscles, tendons, and joints in your arms. If the workload is too high or the recovery time is insufficient, these tissues can become irritated or inflamed.
There are many different types of overuse conditions that can affect your upper arm, including:
- Tendonitis (inflammation of a tendon)
- Muscle strains
- Stress fractures (less common in the upper arm from general exercise but possible)
- Nerve compression
- Bursitis
Bursitis Explained
As mentioned in the provided reference, Bursitis is a condition that occurs when your bursae — fluid-filled sacs that provide cushioning between your muscles, bones and tissues — swell up, causing pain and discomfort. These small sacs are located near your major joints, including the shoulder, which is connected to the upper arm.
- How it happens: Repetitive motion or pressure during exercise can irritate the bursae.
- Symptoms: Swelling, tenderness, and pain around the affected joint or area, often worse with movement.
- Relevance to upper arm pain: Bursitis in the shoulder joint or the bursa located near the elbow can radiate pain into the upper arm.
Other Potential Factors
While overuse is a significant cause, especially concerning bursitis, other factors can contribute to post-exercise arm pain:
- Muscle Soreness (DOMS - Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness): This is a common type of pain that typically starts 12-24 hours after intense or new exercise.
- Improper Form: Using incorrect technique during exercises can place undue stress on certain muscles or joints.
- Insufficient Warm-up or Cool-down: Skipping these steps can make muscles and tendons more susceptible to injury.
- Underlying Conditions: Sometimes, pain exacerbated by exercise can point to existing issues not directly caused by the exercise itself.
What You Can Do
If you experience persistent or severe pain, it's important to consult a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis. However, general steps often include:
- Rest: Giving your arm time to recover.
- Ice: Applying ice to reduce inflammation.
- Gentle Stretching: To improve flexibility (if appropriate for the specific injury).
- Gradual Return to Activity: Slowly increasing the intensity and duration of exercise.
- Improving Technique: Ensuring proper form during exercises.
Remember, overuse conditions like Bursitis are directly linked to the demands placed on your body during activities like exercise.
