Is Being Sore a Sign of a Good Workout?

Have you ever caught yourself saying:

"I didn’t get a good workout, I don’t feel anything. The weight was heavy but I am just not sore at all.”

OR…I had the best workout ever yesterday!! I am so sore I can barely walk!!”

To be sore, or not to be sore, that is the question!....

It’s a common belief among exercisers that muscle soreness and quality of workout exist in a linear relationship. That is, the more sore you get from a workout, the better it is, right? 

WRONG!

Soreness from a workout is NOT always a sign of a good workout.

Muscle Soreness is caused by muscle damage and inflammation.

Some muscle soreness is normal after making a change to your routine, lifting heavier or working harder…However, it shouldn’t be all of the time and doesn’t have to be extreme.

I remember many years ago training HEAVY 5 times a week and rarely being sore at all! I would feel fatigued, but my body was so used to heavy loads, so soreness was not normally a thing for me,  unless I made a significant change to my training routine.

Also keep in mind that nutrition is a huge factor in recovery.  Not eating enough will hinder the recovery process, as well as affect the results from all your hard work in the gym.

I suggest trying not to use soreness as an indicator of a good workout. Instead, measure your results by using a workout log, measurements, pictures or by how you feel.

If you are sore all the time, that can actually be an indication of poor recovery, possibly due to high stress levels, inadequate sleep and lack of appropriate nutrition.

If you’re thinking about becoming a qualified personal trainer or group fitness instructor, check out our Certificate III and IV in Fitness. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!