Muscle Soreness: Is it necessary for success?

Learn why you don't always need to be in pain the day after a weight lifting workout...

Many people think muscle soreness is a necessary evil when it comes to working out, building muscle, and getting fit. In fact, most bodybuilders believe that if they're not really sore the day after a workout then they didn't lift hard enough. Many people, in the pursuit of more muscle mass, do everything they can to induce extreme muscle soreness in the hopes that it will produce bigger, stronger muscles in less time.

However, research has proven that delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is not a prerequisite for muscle growth. Muscle soreness is simply the result of the damage done to muscle fibers during a hard weight lifting workout. Basically, when you lift a weight, small 'microtears' occur within the muscle tissues being used.

When you first begin lifting weights, you will almost certainly experience some muscle soreness. This is ok, as long as you're not in so much pain that it makes you stop wanting to workout. Your body will adapt after a few months of consistent weight training and you will notice less and less soreness the day after your workouts. Many advanced lifters experience almost no DOMS after a few years of training.

Here are the most important things to keep in mind:

• Muscle soreness is not necessary to achieve muscle growth



• Extreme muscle soreness may actually 'program' your brain to hate working out, especially if experienced on a regular basis



• Increase the intensity of your workouts in order to achieve greater muscle growth - not solely for the purpose of inducing more delayed-onset muscle soreness!

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Useful links:

Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness