DOMS typically develops in which time frame after unaccustomed or strenuous exercise?

• A. 12-24 hours
• B. 6-12 hours
• C. 24-48 hours
• D. 48-72 hours

Answer: (A)

Delayed onset muscle soreness comes from microscopic muscle fiber damage, especially after unfamiliar or intense eccentric work, and the soreness is driven by inflammatory processes that sensitize nerves. This soreness doesn’t appear during the workout but emerges after a short delay. The typical onset is within 12 to 24 hours after exercise, with symptoms often peaking over the next one to three days. That timing fits best because starting at 6–12 hours would be earlier than DOMS usually begins, while 24–48 hours or 48–72 hours describes later phases of the soreness or its peak rather than the initial appearance. So, the 12–24 hour window best matches when DOMS first develops.