Here’s How Long It Takes Before Your Muscles Decondition, ... Dr. Davis says. He points to one study where doctors fully restrict the leg of an otherwise young, healthy person.

And, Dr. Behm said, stretching can slightly fatigue your muscles and tendons, so if you stretch your quads and glutes before you do squats, for example, that may actually hinder your workout.

Commonly shortened to DOMS, "delayed onset muscle soreness names pain, tenderness, and/or stiffness in the muscles that you've exercised after you've exercised them," says Dr. Gam.