Why Being Sore Doesn’t Mean You Had a Great Workout

Many people wear soreness like a badge of honor after a workout. But here’s the truth: being sore doesn’t always mean you had a great workout.

Muscle soreness—technically called delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)—is your body’s response to a new or intense physical stressor. It means your muscles experienced something they weren’t used to, and now they’re repairing and adapting. While that can be part of getting stronger, it’s not the only marker of success.

You can train effectively, build muscle, and make progress in the gym without feeling like you can barely walk the next day. In fact, constantly chasing soreness can lead to burnout, poor recovery, or even injury.

So what should you look for instead?

✅ Consistent performance improvements (like lifting heavier or moving faster).

✅ Better energy and focus during workouts.

✅ Increased mobility and less discomfort in everyday life.

Soreness can happen, and that’s okay—but it shouldn’t be the goal. Focus on progress you can sustain, not pain you have to recover from.