muscle soreness facts and myths

[Amparor]

Going back on the forums over the years and not much information on what soreness means or if it is good. a lot of guys say it does not prove anything if you are sore or not in terms of how good a workout you really got.what are the facts on this? also they say muscle pumps isn't necessarily a good thing either.

[SteveMobsterG]

Both are true. You can prove this to yourself. If you're gaining weight, adding muscle or getting stronger that's all the proof you need. You do NOT need to have a pump or be sore.

[stevesmi]

when you workout you are accomplishing 2 main things

1. training your body to react to what you are doing (if you ever worked out with a newb you will notice they are struggling while you are smooth because you have been training for years and they haven't)
2. breaking down the muscle (yes this happens, you don't grow while you workout

if your body is not used to this then of course you will get sore as a reaction. soreness is your body freaking out and wanting to repair what you just put it through. once it is conditioned it wont' get sore as much until you shock it and change up your workouts.

as far as pumps those are your body shuttling in blood and nutrients into the muscles again as a reaction.

[RickRock13]

Both are true. You can prove this to yourself. If you're gaining weight, adding muscle or getting stronger that's all the proof you need. You do NOT need to have a pump or be sore.

This is spot on advice

[MasonicBodybuilder]

You definitely do not have to be sore to make gains. I rarely get sore from any training but still am able to progress. As for pump, it is just the way you train or what you eat.

[Tazz]

non soreness does not equal non productivity.