Is soreness a good indicator of effort?

emmab0902

I have just started getting into strength training, and especially want to develop upper body strength for swimming. I started on the weekend and went again on Monday. Saturday was just a fairly easy session to gauge weights etc, but yesterday (Monday) I lifted a lot heavier and expected to be feeling it today. However I can only really sense a very faint awareness of some muscles and nothing in others. And I know I lifted to my capacity and to failure. Does the lack of soreness mean lack of effect/effort/need for recovery? Was hoping for some decent pain today lol.

rick_po

From what I've read, post-workout soreness is not well understood. Some people experience a lot of it; others, hardly any, and researchers don't really know why.

When I get sore, it's usually 36-48 hours after I workout, and it lasts 2 or 3 days. It was never a debilitating soreness, and I never let it stop me from working out. That went on for about 3 years, but in the past few months, the pain has almost completely gone away. I don't miss it :-)

phjorg1

it is not...

The best indicator of effort is the amount of weight on the barbell, and the amount of times you moved it in full body compound movements..

IronSmasher

No, and it's more associated with something new rather than effectiveness.

mrdexter1

soreness is caused by small tears in muscle fibres and obviously any one new to training will experience this a long with initial rapid muscle growth seen in newbies as the muscle repairs larger and stronger.. It diminishes as they progress as does the rapid muscle growth as the body adapts - It can be synonymous with overtraining beyond the newbie stage. Rest and repair is important.

You can use the above to your advantage in the manner you use the gym and your rest time away from it and i dont mind living with soreness much of the week for the gains it gives on a 3 day 45 minute training program that allows for lots of rest.