Muscle tightness

I just started working out with a friend, and after the workout my muscles have become so tight that I can barely touch my face with my hands. The tightness is around my triceps and biceps. I worked out that one day at the gym on the upperbody and back. The next day I just did cardio. Then the following day it was feeling tight. It's been tight for 4 days. I stretched before and after the workout. I am 16 years old, I weigh 160 and I'm 5' 10". Is it normal for the muscles to be this tight for this period of time? I can barely put on a shirt my arms are so tight. Is there any way to get them to stop being so tight? This has happend to me before a couple of months earlier when I went to the gym with a friend. Is it just something that happens when someone starts working out?
 
I'll tell you - when I re-started working out a couple of weeks ago, I did Upper Body on one day, and when I was finished, it was hard to wash my hair because my arms felt so week. When I woke up the next morning, I couldn't extend my arms to 180 degrees, and it seemed like they were stuck, taught and tight, at 45 degree angles! I tried to extend them, and it hurt a little, but every little bit helped.

Now, you mentioned that this just happened, and that when you revisited your gym, it happened again. Are those the only two times you've worked out? If so, I'd say your story is pretty close to mine above. Give it some time, and your muscles will sort itself out.
 
hmm not really enough evidence to make a good diagnosis. people get a pump, in a nutshell it's where alot of blood flows to your arms and they get tight hard to move, fatigue would play a hand in this as well. in most cases this will subside with in a few houres. somtimes due to DOMS and tention it will continue days after, it's farly common. best thing to do is have someone message the area and relax.
 
yea this happened to me too. I'm 19 years old. I went to work out with a friend for the first time in 4-5 months maybe and we did a pretty heavy workout. Pullups were killer. The next day I couldn't extend my arms without bad pain. This went on for several days. All I did was kept forcing my arm to extend, kinda like stretching it. This lasted for a week so it should go away soon for you. I think this happens because the biceps are rebuilding at a fast rate.
 
I had that happen to me too when I was younger. It'll be fine in a couple of days. Next time start out with a bit easier work out. From here on you should be fine with subsecuent workouts

R.
 
You didnt do enough warm up, cool down.

It would help a lot if u have a sports massage and a long sauna and swim after ur workout. Keep the blood flowing as it is ur blood that will stop the muscles from aching.
 
eat a few bananas, the potassium will help with your sore and tight muscles... this is common once you start pushing around more weight, or even if you just change your workout... your body isnt used to it... you need to make sure you warm up and cool down properly as well as stretch before and after your workout that will help with this problem too... i can still remember blasting my chest and having to lean into the door just to get it open since my arms were too weak... its a great feeling!
 
other good sources of potassium are: a potato which contains 800 milligrams, a banana has 450 milligrams the rest on the list are things that contain high amounts: Buttermilk, Milk, Yogurt, Apricots, Avocado, Cantaloupe, Dates, Honeydew melon, Nectarines, Prunes, Raisins, Chicken, Fish, Carrot, Celery, Spinach, Squash, Tomato, Molasses, and Nuts.
 
Thanks for the replies, I'm now having another problem. I was shadowing what my friend does for a routine, but with lower weight. I came to the point where I was unable to lift even the littlest ammount of weight. Is this because of a "pump" (I did about 7 sets before it happend). I came to the point where my right arm was unable to lift the 15 lbs dumbell. Is this becasue I just started to workout and my muscles are starting to form or becasue of a pump? Is this going to keep happening to me? Should I stop when I get to the point of not being able to lift anymore?
 
If you can't lift anymore then drop the weight a bit and keep going ( by my last set of dumbell curls for example I am struggling to pull 5 lbs, and yes this is always when the hot girl walks into the gym), working to total exhaustion your first time out would definitely cause the tightness you described earlier. That'll stop when you get used to working out , then you'll have a more mild soreness for a couple of days after.
 
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