Health Tips : Is soreness a good indicator of a good workout?

By Winston Salem in : Fitness Tips // Sep 5 2010

The old axiom, “no pain, no gain,” is just that… old and outdated. Pain and soreness are not precise measures of the benefits of exercise.

Muscle soreness can occur with whoever who exercises, from a beginning exerciser embarking on a new program to a conditioned veteran who’s working at a greater intensity, frequency, and/or duration than she / he is used to.

It frequently happens to well-trained people as they begin a new activity.

Muscle soreness may also be a result of overuse, which could eventually lead to injury. It is important to listen to your body and seek treatment for injuries.

Meeting goals in terms of developing strength or endurance needs to be the focus of any fitness program. Well-defined goals guide results that you’re able to attain through gradual behavior change.

Examples – I want to be able to do 20 push-ups; I want to be able to run a 10K by the end of the year, etc. Objectives are specific and measurable and could be useful in guiding any training program.

Soreness could be a consequence of working toward a training goal, but should not be a goal in and of itself.

Your development and achievement must be the trainer’s first concern.

A few trainers feel the way a client looks or how much the person can lift is a direct reflection of her or his ability. Does it make sense for you to have a conversation with your trainer about your concerns?

You might want to reference Picking and Effectively Using a Personal Trainer, developed by the ACSM.