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Different type of soreness from high reps vs. low reps?

contingencyplan
contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
When I do work with high weight and low reps I feel a soreness in my muscles, like most everyone else. But when I go for lower weight and more reps, it's a different kind of pain. It's a sharp, stabbing pain, usually in my shoulders, and it feels more like it's the tendons/ligaments than actual muscles that are the source of it. Why is this and what does it mean?

Replies

  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    Anyone? =/
  • CallMeCupcakeDammit
    CallMeCupcakeDammit Posts: 9,377 Member
    Sorry, I haven't noticed a difference. I did 3 sets of 15s last night and my muscles are sooore!
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    bumping?
  • dr3wman
    dr3wman Posts: 205
    So when you do light weight and high rep, you feel pain not soreness right? First thing I would check is your form. Sometimes when performing lower rep ranges, you wont feel poor form because your body isnt under tension for a long time period. High rep sets put your body in a greater amount of time under tension. So any movements your body doesnt like will cause pain. I would suggest making slight variations in form and customize them to what feels natural for YOUR body. Just because someone demonstrates form a certain way, doesnt mean it will work for your specific body type. There also could be some underlying joint problems which something like a multivitamin would greatly help.
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    So when you do light weight and high rep, you feel pain not soreness right? First thing I would check is your form. Sometimes when performing lower rep ranges, you wont feel poor form because your body isnt under tension for a long time period. High rep sets put your body in a greater amount of time under tension. So any movements your body doesnt like will cause pain. I would suggest making slight variations in form and customize them to what feels natural for YOUR body. Just because someone demonstrates form a certain way, doesnt mean it will work for your specific body type. There also could be some underlying joint problems which something like a multivitamin would greatly help.

    Thank you. Already taking a multivitamin. The best way I can describe it is that I've learned to be able to tell the difference between joint pain and muscle soreness. And when I work with lighter weight for greater reps, I begin to feel what I know to be joint pain specifically in my shoulders and elbows. When I use a greater weight where I fail in under 12 reps, I don't feel this pain.

    Regarding form, is it possible that I may have to use a totally different form for high rep work?
  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
    Regarding form, is it possible that I may have to use a totally different form for high rep work?

    I don't see why you would need to change your form. You would do high-rep bodyweight dips the same as if you did low-rep dips with weight chained to your waist. Your tempo should change a little.
  • dr3wman
    dr3wman Posts: 205
    Yea there is no need to completley change form on anything...small tweaks can make a huge difference in how your joints feel. What I was originally trying to say was that sometimes at maximal effort, you are forced to use your natural mechanical advantage to move the weight...this doesnt happen in lower rep ranges and an "un-natural" movement can cause pain. Like JNick77 said, the tempo, or "time under tension" can cause discomfort depending on the exercise. Curious as to why your going above 12 reps, endurance training?
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    I do circuit training workouts as cardio because I struggle with traditional forms of cardio due to the footwork required in them.
This discussion has been closed.

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