You’re deep into an intense workout when a burning sensation starts to creep into your muscles, but is it just normal post-exercise soreness or the warning signs of an injury? Knowing whether to push through the discomfort or stop and reassess can be tricky. According to health experts, the key often comes down to understanding your body’s signals and recognizing your pain threshold.

“When people understand their pain and what’s normal and not normal, they really benefit,” Dave Pavao, the chief clinical officer of Highbar Physical Therapy, told SELF on June 23. “Distinguishing discomfort from pain allows you to make the right decisions and stay in the game longer instead of getting into trouble.”

If you’re not sure whether what you’re feeling is normal post-exercise soreness or something more serious, these four signs can help you tell the difference.