I have been working out for several years. I usually work most sets to failure / near failure. I workout 4 days / week and generally eat well. However, I do not experience much soarness after workouts regardless of how intensely I train. Also, I have had a tough time gaining. I alternate exercises and rest periods. Shouldn't I be at least a little soar now and then?

By kyle on Monday, December 27, 1999 - 05:15 am: Edit

well it doesnt matter how hard you work out... if you work out hard with medium pound weights you wont feel anything the next day. But if you work out with hard with heavy weights you will be sore.. you have to increase the weight so as your muscles are not used to that big of a strain..

get it..
need more just mail me
kylets@hotmail.com

By me on Monday, December 27, 1999 - 07:01 am: Edit

Thanks for the comment. I use a 5-6 rep range and sometimes even lower. I don't think that's the problem.

By Stevie D. on Monday, January 03, 2000 - 08:16 pm: Edit

I have that problem too "me"
Only in some muscles though, my chest and triceps get soar, also my traps a hamstrings, while my biceps, back, shoulders, calves, foararms and quads do not get soar. Interestingly enough, that hasn't really had anything to do with which muscles grow faster than others, try adding an extra set to each exercise, and stretch the muscle your working after the last set of each exercise.
Only go to failure on the last set of each exercise. You probably know that.

By me on Tuesday, January 04, 2000 - 09:39 am: Edit

Steve,

No, I usually go to failure or near failure on each set (total of 4-5 sets per bodypart per week). Do you think that this will lead to overtraining or what?

By Bruce on Tuesday, January 04, 2000 - 09:31 pm: Edit

I have had the same experience as Stevie D. The amount of soreness I experience after a workout has very little, if any correlation to the intensity of the workout. Some muscles seem to get sore easily, like the hamstrings, while others almost never get sore, like my shoulders, yet I almost always lift heavier each workout.

I also agree with Stevie D that you should go to failure on the last set. Do a few warm up sets and then lift as heavy as you possibly can on the last set. If you are going to failure on each set and your first set isn't your heaviest, then you probably won't be able to lift as heavy as you could have since you have wasted energy on earlier, lighter sets.

By IronMind on Wednesday, January 05, 2000 - 08:33 am: Edit

I fully agree with you guys, and don't forget that soreness does not always equal muscle growth. Try to avoid working out when sore to, it could lead to overtraining. I love working out to failure, it gives me such a rush.

By Anonymous ( - 206.104.30.162) on Friday, July 21, 2000 - 06:54 am: Edit

When I lift weights, I can only feel the "burn" in my right leg or right arm. My right side(arm and leg) will also get more soar and grow bigger and faster than my left side. My right arm and right leg is bigger than my left arm and left leg. What causes this and what can I do?

By Curtis L on Tuesday, August 15, 2000 - 07:11 pm: Edit

It does not matter how much you do,it is how you are performing each rep! You get more microscopic muscle tears on the negative side of a rep than you do on the positive side. So what i am saying is do more negatives!!!!! A normal rep should take 3 seconds down and 2 seconds up, on the last set of each one of your exercises try some 6 second reps, with light weight. Take 3 seconds down and 3 seconds up. Try doing this and i guarentee you will be sore!!!!

By Anonymous ( - 207.172.108.166) on Tuesday, December 26, 2000 - 08:46 pm: Edit

hey. try to do some negatives. so that means get a training partner. put 25% more weight on than your max and then lift it down slowly then have your lifting partner or spotter help you lift it back up. when lifting it back up, he should be doing alot of the work. your job is to let the weight down slowly.