Should I Feel Sore After Working Out?
At some point in your gym-going life, you’ve probably chased the idea of feeling sore. For many, it makes them feel like they’ve worked hard. It’s the physical, palpable, positive reinforcement they need to keep going.
For others, soreness is a deterrent. Some people have a desire to avoid pain, while athletes and others who use their bodies for a living may shy from soreness because it gets in the way of doing what they do.
For all parties, the question usually comes back to:
Do I need to feel sore in order for my workout to have been effective?
The answer may surprise you and go against a bit of what is popular in fitness circles.
The advice that you should always chase pain or soreness is indeed ill-advised, but for those who desire real progress, there is a degree of discomfort that should result from good training. What’s most important is recognizing the signs of it, qualifying it, and recovering from it to make progress.
This is a question we explored in more depth on my Substack, which I invite you to read by clicking below.
READ: 8 years, and the age old question: Am I supposed to feel sore?
About the Author: Mark DiSalvo, CSCS
Mark is the founder and owner of DiSalvo Performance Training. He brings over a decade of experience training clients and athletes of all backgrounds and is the strength and conditioning coach to grapplers of all levels and disciplines: from youth to professional and Olympic-level. He is currently a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu himself, with 10 years of experience in the sport. You can read more about him here.
A graduate of Northeastern University, he’s an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and Sports Performance Expert with a specialty in combat sports. He’s also a Steve Maxwell Certified Kettlebell Instructor (Levels 1 & 2).
