squats and DOMS

[alfresco]

It is well established scientifically and experienced
at some time or another by literally all human beings
that delayed onset of muscular soreness (DOMS)
is a reality. (And what is really interesting, if you can
believe this, is that muscles do not have the type
of nerves necessary to register pain . . . so what
actually does get sore? But that is another subject.)

The mechanism by which one can induce DOMS is not
fully understood, but for me and most other normal human
beings, the negative part of the exercise produces far more,
and is perhaps, solely responsible for this effect. Speaking
for myself, I can't think of any positive movement that
produces muscular soreness and I've lived long enough to
try just about everything.

If you think I'm joking, try this sometime: find a building
with a minimum of fifty flights of floors. After a week or so
of not training, put on a backpack loaded with about twenty
to thirty pounds in it and walk, take the stairs to the highest
floor and then take the elevator down.

The next day, your legs will be fatigued but not sore. Wait a
few more days, then go to the same building, wear the same
backpack, only this time take the elevator to the top and walk
down. The next day your legs will not only be fatigued, but
they will be very sore. I could give numerous other examples,
(like chin-ups for example), but I'll spare you all the details.

Getting to the point of my post . . .

A few years ago, if I had not squatted regularly, I could
do one set of full squats and my legs would be sore
before I left the gym. I did not have to wait the requisite
24 - 48 hours for DOMS to set it. It happened right before
my very eyes. While it certainly got worse over the course
of the next few days, the onset was almost immediate and
sometimes debilitating; i.e., I could barely walk out of the
gym and get in my car. And after a few days, I could barely
get out of my car.

What's up with that?

Now, after going on HRT, I find it almost impossible to produce
any meaningful degree of muscular soreness in my legs. Squats
produce some, a very very small amount, but it never even comes
close to what it was like prior to HRT. For my other body parts, the
production of muscular soreness has remained virtually unchanged.
But my legs are in fact, a different story.

Any ideas as to why this is?

 

[bhumik]

i have thought a lot similar to what u are thinking.

I ahve a few questions.. Did the DOMS suddenly go away after administering HRT? If so you could probably link it to Faster recovery protein metablism etc.

DOMS for a newbie is much severe than a vet lifter. Maybe that could be attributed to the muscle getting Stronger and tearing less?? Just guessing.

I have a strong feeling it has to do with creatine kinase levels too. Some lifters have a high CK after working out in the (1000 range normal is like 100), while some lifters barely get elevation in CK. The second ones are probably the ones that dont get sore much.

For me I get sore now as always. Maybe a bit less then when i was a newbie but i am still sore. almost every workout. MY ck levels are always high thru teh roof the two times i have tested them after working out.

BUT one thing I have notices is people that dont get "sore" as much do tend to have a better build.

 

[bhumik]

i think you misunderstood me. I didnt say the size of muscle has anything to do with soreness. I mean how long you been training that muscle.

For eg. If you just started running your whole body will be worm if you do a 3 mile run. But if you are a vet runner and been running for a while your body aint gonna feel anything after a 3 mile run.

If you stop working out for 2 months and decide to lift weight again, your body will be much more sore than it gets right now.

I am also interested in hearing more responses.

 

[loser]

idk, man.

i agree that it depends on how you train the muscle that matters. not muscle maturity, development, or strength.

ie. on leg day, i ALWAYS walk out of the gym looking like iv stuck a piece of lumber up my ass and im in pain for the next 3-4 days.


i do, however, believe that the bigger the muscle is (more fibers), the more potential the muscle has to hurt (bigger DOMS).