Soreness attributed to growth

[bivk]

I always hear people say that being sore from working out always leads to growth and development of the body, than I hear otherwise.

I'm really lost when it comes to the topic, because if its true than my body must adapt pretty quick to the resistance. I almost never get sore unless I haven't worked the body part in over twos week or more. I usually try keeping the reps between 4-8 after I do a warm-up, but the soreness just isnt there even if its an intense workout, only happens when I haven't worked the muscle in awhile.

I have a friend who is extremely big, and he swears that he stays sore for days after workouts and it pretty much helps his development in size. This happens for him on a constant basis.

So I'm pretty much trying to figure out whether or not some bodies adapt to the soreness better, than forcing us to figure out other routines for our workout or is it just a bullshit myth?

 

[hardrock]

All the 5x5 guys say they never get sore and they grow like weeds. That's what they say anyway. If I don't get sore I don't feel I've worked a muscle hard enough. I have heard that soreness does not equal muscle hypertrophy tho.

 

[silver_shadow]

soreness doesn't equate to growth. soreness means that you are not adapted to the workload. or it's also possible that due to TOO much recovery time, your body has deconditioned.

 

[silver_shadow]

check this out:
http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?t=467830&page=2
in post #24, i've outlined my w/o. i don't get sore doing this.

 

[25homes]

soreness doesn't equate to growth. soreness means that you are not adapted to the workload. or it's also possible that due to TOO much recovery time, your body has deconditioned.

I change my workouts up so that after every workout I am sore no matter what!!makes me feel like i got somethin done!!

 

[silver_shadow]

I change my workouts up so that after every workout I am sore no matter what!!makes me feel like i got somethin done!!

i should clarify here what kind of soreness i'm talking about. if it is lactic acid burn then that is not good. if it is a tiredness which goes away in an hour after you've hit the gym (if you relax that is) then this is ok. if your soreness is for a prolonged period... something like when the kind of soreness you got after your very first day in the gym, that's the same lactic acid burn.

 

[Quiltie]

Hmmmmm. Great question. When I don't feel sore the next day I feel like I screwed up and wasted my time. Any vets weigh in on this?

 

[gettinripped]

i only feel sore after switching up routines or a few days off. other than that, rarely do it get sore. i used to worry about this too, but from my experience, you don not have to get sore to grow. although it does feel good to be sore.

 

[steelmass]

To use your logic, that would mean when I am on 1g Test and Tren and don't get sore therefore I won't grow.

Soreness does not = growth. MGF is the reason that your muscles grow bigger. Everytime you work them your MGF peaks at around 24 hours. Thats why for maximal hypertrophy people train muscle every 2-3 days. Balancing strength/hypertrophy is a whole different animal, which is why people do different splits.

 

[jacshelb]

Ok, my statement isn't scientific or a knock on anyone else's obvservations. I find that certain muscles nearly always get sore on my body, chest, for example. Other muscles, like shoulders and arms, usually don't get very sore if at all. The way my body is set up with broad clavicles and longish arms, I believe that I tend to use my chest very directly when I bench. Whereas, many of my friends/ training partners, who have narrower shoulders, tend to have better developed triceps and front delts ala Lee Priest. I, however, find building thickness in my triceps and front delts very challenging. So, in that way, I think soreness counts. It can be an indicator of what muscles are doing most of the work/ or effectively being worked the hardest as in my chest/tri/shoulder workouts.

Also, I suspect that everyone is different in the way that their muscles produce lactic acid, etc etc. I don't believe that it is always a case of waiting too long between workouts that causes soreness. I say this because my chest is much better than my triceps and front delts, and it always gets nice and sore. But, I do understand the concept, i.e. if you go to the gym and work bis twice a week, you flush the lactic acid out of the muscle each time and less builds up, right? This might be crucial to someone who experiences intolerable excess soreness. (Also, you'll get less sore from multiple "lighter" sets than one or two "heavy as possible" sets based on the same concept- flushing.) But, I think, for most, that soreness can be a good indicator of working a muscle hard enough- possibly even intensity. Which, coupled with adequate nutrition and rest, can be an indicator for growth.


Jacob

 

[steelmass]

The way my body is set up with broad clavicles and longish arms, I believe that I tend to use my chest very directly when I bench. Whereas, many of my friends/ training partners, who have narrower shoulders, tend to have better developed triceps and front delts ala Lee Priest.

In benching, tucking your elbows close to your lats works your chest more, while flaring them outwards works your delts more. Your elbows should make 30degrees with your torso. Your friends should use less front delt when benching.

you flush the lactic acid out of the muscle each time and less builds up, right?

I love this concept. I work everything hard once a week and light once a week. For example Heavy Bis, Light Chest. The heavy bis kills them and the light chest is only there to flush.

 

[jacshelb]

Steelmass, I see what you are saying. I keep my elbows at about 30-40 degrees from my torso. So, I think you are right. I'm always happy with my bench results. I'm not sure what my friends are keeping thier angles at specifically, but I was trying to draw a parallel between having a narrow shoulder girdle and keeping the hands spaced closer together. You tend to see more compact/stocky guys with big tris than taller guys (i.e. lee Priest Vs. Arnold). Not saying this is always the case, but many stocky folks like to power up the weight rellying heavily on arm strength, which I always took to come from tucking the elbows in too tightly or keeping hands too close. But, I think you are right on about the 30 degree thing. Should be a good medium place for people of different builds.


Jacob

 

[steelmass]

I see. Good point.

 

[narshh]

Soreness does not = growth.

You are right... I have seen this happen.
When my dick is sore it will not grow. So we must conclude

Soreness= no growth.