Why Kimchi-Making Syndrome Worsens the Day After: Understanding the Cause

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Pain after Kimjang, why is it so severe? At Sunyujae Korean Medicine Clinic in Suji-gu, after the Kimjang season, one of the most common things we hear in the consultation room is: “Doctor, I only did Kimjang for one day, but now I ache all over…” In reality, Kimjang isn’t just a simple household chore; it’s a major task that uses the entire body for a whole day. So, feeling pain after Kimjang isn’t unusual; you can consider it a natural reaction from your body.

Today, let’s talk about why pain occurs after Kimjang and how to manage it effectively. Lower Back Pain — “You were bent over for too long.” At Sunyujae Korean Medicine Clinic in Dongcheon-dong, Suji-gu, most people remain in a bent-over posture for 20-30 minutes or more during Kimjang. This posture is actually the most strenuous for the lower back.

Muscles are constantly tense, and ligaments are stretched and enduring. That’s why symptoms like these often appear the day after Kimjang: • A heavy, stuck feeling in the lower back • Taking a few seconds to straighten the back • Feeling stiffer in the morning. Most of these pains stem from over-tension in muscles and fascia, plus minor sprains.

Shoulder and Neck Pain — “Your arms couldn’t rest for a moment.” At a pain-focused Korean medicine clinic in Suji-gu, during Kimjang, you’re constantly reaching forward with your arms, lifting trays, lifting cabbages, mixing… The muscles around your shoulders end up working several times harder than usual. Especially the trapezius, rotator cuff, and scapular muscles. After Kimjang, you might experience: • Tight knots in the upper shoulders • A delayed feeling when turning your neck • A sharp pain when lifting your arm • ‘Nocturnal pain’ that worsens after lying down.

These symptoms appear. Especially for those who did Kimjang in a cold place or spent a long time on a veranda, muscles tend to stiffen faster, leading to more prolonged pain. Wrist and Elbow Pain — “Chopping, slicing, mixing… repetition is the problem.” At Sunyujae Korean Medicine Clinic in Dongcheon-dong, the Kimjang season is actually when wrists are most overworked.

Chopping is constantly repeated, and you’re continuously applying force to hold and twist radishes or cabbages. This often leads to symptoms such as: • A throbbing pain on the outer side of the wrist • Numbness on the outer side of the elbow • Pain even when just opening a bottle cap • A sudden loss of strength when gripping objects. These are common symptoms of wrist and elbow overuse (tenosynovitis/tendon strain).

“Should I seek treatment?” Suji-gu Sunyujae Korean Medicine Clinic: Most post-Kimjang pain tends to gradually subside within 3-7 days. However, if you experience any of the following symptoms, it may be more than just simple muscle fatigue: • When the pain remains similar or worsens after a week • When numbness, sharp pain, or nocturnal pain recurs • When radiating pain from the lower back extends down the leg. These signs could indicate stress not only on muscles but also on ligaments, nerves, and surrounding joint tissues, so it’s helpful to have your condition checked early on.

Small management tips you can do at home, Suji-gu Korean Medicine Clinic: • For simple muscle tension, use warm compresses to relax muscles. • For throbbing pain in joints or tendons, use ice compresses. • Focus on gentle movements rather than intense stretching. • Reduce household chores as much as possible the day after Kimjang (sufficient rest significantly speeds up recovery). Kimjang is ‘labor,’ not an ‘event.’ Sunyujae Korean Medicine Clinic: You might think Kimjang is just a one-time event for the year, but

from our body’s perspective, it’s quite a strenuous task. So, feeling pain is perfectly natural. However, if the pain persists for a long time, it might be a more precise signal from your body, so feel free to visit us and have your condition checked.

If you rest well and stay warm, your body will recover faster than you think. As much as you overexerted yourself, please take a little extra care of your body this week.

Valuable information for a healthy life We hope you’ll join Sunyujae Korean Medicine Clinic in sharing valuable information for a healthy life. Sunyujae Korean Medicine Clinic in Suji-gu pursues evidence-based medicine and integrative medicine.

This post was written directly by the medical staff of Sunyujae Korean Medicine Clinic to provide medical information, in compliance with Article 56(2) and Article 57(3) of the Medical Service Act. The duration and outcome of treatment may vary from person to person, so please consult a qualified practitioner before beginning treatment.