muscle soreness

[calfo]

When I first started lifting weights the muscles I had excercised would be sore the next day, not painful but that good kind of sore that let me know i'd really worked them. Now after a couple years I really dont get that feeling anymore, even when i know Ive really pushed the muscle and had a tough workout. The only time I might feel sore is if I have a week or 2 off and get back into it.

So my question is, Is muscle soreness an indication of how hard you worked the muscle, or does it only occur when your new to something ? Should I be worried if im not sore the next day? Ive read and heard conflicting arguments about this, so some clarification would be really appreciated.

By the way I do vary my routine every couple of weeks, change grips,stance, increase weight etc. Cheers.

 

[Karky]

you dont need to be sore. Soreness is not an indicator of a good workout, so dont worry about it.

 

[SmithMachine]

Yeah when i do my leg workout it always ends with me only just being able to walk at the end of it because all the strength is gone!!! Then the next day my legs Farking Cain as if they are bruised all over, its in my ass my legs all over that area and takes 3 days to go away most the time but i just cant help it because i push my self so hard. Ill give you a list of what i did today.

Leg press 100kg

Set1 12 reps
set2 10 reps
set3 8 reps

Squats 10 kg

set1 11 reps
set2 10 reps
set3 8 reps

Leg extension 40-35kg

Set1 12 reps
set2 11 reps
set3 35kg 15 reps

leg curls 35kg

set1 15 rep
set2 12 reps
set3 10 reps

Calf raises seated 15kg

set1 20reps
set2 20reps
set3 16 reps

calf raises standing 20 kg

set1 20reps
set2 10reps
set3 8 reps

leg ups

set1 20
set2 20

 

[goergen1]

So my question is, Is muscle soreness an indication of how hard you worked the muscle, or does it only occur when your new to something?

It really depends. Sometimes you will be sore and sometimes you will not be sore. I agree with Karky that it is not an indicator of a good workout, and should not be the goal of a workout.

However if you are never sore that may be an issue as well. If you increase the intensity, or make changes in your workout you will more than likely end up getting sore at these times. Then as your body adapts to the change in stimulus you will be less and less sore.

Most people who get sore all of the time are either doing way too much work, are not in good enough shape to recover in a reasonable amount of time, or train too infrequently to adapt to the workload.