Should abs get DOM's?

[Rook13]

If my muscles don't get sore the day after working em then I feel like my workout wasn't as good as it shoulda been. However I know that the abs tend to recover much quicker, so I was wondering if I don't get that soreness following an ab workout (like how you normally do with your other muscles) did I work my abs hard enough? Should I try something different to shock my abs? Or is it normal for them to not always be sore? Thanks in advance

[jgil1919]

if all your muscles are always sore the day after you work then that is not good.

so to answer your question.. if you dont get sore the next day you may have worked your abs hard enough. if you do get sore everytime you probably are overtraining.

[Rook13]

When I say "sore" I'm talking about Delayed Onset Muscle soreness. Not an injury type sore. The "good" type of sore if you will.

[jgil1919]

soreness is not a sign of a good/bad workout.

what im basically saying is it doesn't matter if you are sore or not you should measure the success of your workouts by more size/strength

and thank you for spelling out DOMs for me (not) haha

[Rook13]

It's true that soreness isn't really a sign of a good/bad workout but if you stick with a workout too long you won't be sore at all and your body will adapt to the workout. So if you haven't been sore in a month following everyone of your workouts, it prolly means you need to change it up. I was kind of wondering if the same principles apply to the abs because I have made some progress but I'm afraid I might be plateauing.

[jgil1919]

if you haven't been sore in a month following everyone of your workouts, it prolly means you need to change it up.

not if you are going up in weights.

i told you. soreness doesn't matter, results do

[jgil1919]

for my back workout i could lay on my stomach and have my friend drop plates on me.

next day= sore back

did i get any bigger/stronger though?

[AnaerobicAndrew]

When I say "sore" I'm talking about Delayed Onset Muscle soreness. Not an injury type sore. The "good" type of sore if you will.

DOMS isn't the good kind of sore, its the kind of sore that means you've created a bit too much trauma. DOMS is something you don't want and can be a precursor to a higher risk of injury.

[jgil1919]

DOMS isn't the good kind of sore, its the kind of sore that means you've created a bit too much trauma. DOMS is something you don't want and can be a precursor to a higher risk of injury.

exactly.

this guy just wants someone to say that he is hardcore cuz his abs get sore

[Drekkor]

DOMS isn't the good kind of sore, its the kind of sore that means you've created a bit too much trauma. DOMS is something you don't want and can be a precursor to a higher risk of injury.

[Rook13]

Jgil when I say "soreness" clearly you know what kind of soreness I'm talking about. Everyone who has ever lifted a weight gets this soreness at one point or another. Dropping a plate on your back =/= soreness from an intense workout. And I never said my abs get sore...I said they don't. That's why I'm posting here lol

[msm172021121]

if you arent sore the day after you workout, stay and home and quit taking up space in the gym. just my opinion.

[msm172021121]

rook, add weight to all your ab exercises

[Drekkor]

exactly.

this guy just wants someone to say that he is hardcore cuz his abs get sore

What...?

Jgil when I say "soreness" clearly you know what kind of soreness I'm talking about. Everyone who has ever lifted a weight gets this soreness at one point or another. Dropping a plate on your back =/= soreness from an intense workout. And I never said my abs get sore...I said they don't. That's why I'm posting here lol

I found those gimmick ab-wheel rollers to be effective at making me sore when I use them ~once/week. Cost you about $10 at walmart. GL achieving pain without having your abs tear open spilling your intestines into the street

[Rook13]

Thank you Drekkor and msm. That's more of the type of response I was looking for, I appreciate it.

[msm172021121]

Thank you Drekkor and msm. That's more of the type of response I was looking for, I appreciate it.

just remember, abs are the same as any other muscle, soreness is a good thing, just not for days at a time, your abs are just usually harder to fatigue, add weight or decline or both, and good luck to you sir.

[AnaerobicAndrew]

This is DOMS:

"Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a phenomenon that has long been associated with increased physical exertion. DOMS is typically experienced by all individuals regardless of fitness level, and is a normal physiological response to increased exertion, and the introduction of unfamiliar physical activities. Due to the sensation of pain and discomfort, which can impair physical training and performance, prevention and treatment of DOMS is of great concern to coaches, trainers, and therapists. In a recent review, Szymanski (2001) provides an extensive evaluation of the mechanisms and treatments for DOMS. Although science has not established a sound and consistent treatment for DOMS, previous interventions include pharmaceuticals, pre-exercise warm-up, stretching, massage, and nutritional supplements, just to name a few. The pain and discomfort associated with DOMS typically peaks 24-48 hours after an exercise bout, and resolves within 96 hours. Generally, an increased perception of soreness occurs with greater intensity and a higher degree of unfamiliar activities. Other factors, which play a role in DOMS, are muscle stiffness, contraction velocity, fatigue, and angle of contraction. In order to minimize symptoms and optimize productivity in a physical training program it is vital to understand the proposed mechanisms of injury, which occur in DOMS. In another recent review, Connolly, Sayers, and McHugh (2003) present an explanation for the mechanisms of injury, as well as various modalities for prevention and treatment of DOMS. The purpose of this article is to provide a review of the mechanisms of injury associated with DOMS as well as an evaluation of the recommendations of various proposed treatments."

Connolly, D.A.J., S.P Sayers, and M.P. McHugh. Treatment and prevention of delayed onset muscle soreness. J. Strength Cond. Res. 17(1):197-298. 2003.

You don't want DOMS.

[msm172021121]

wow, i'll leave that one to drekkor.

[Drekkor]

This is DOMS:

You don't want DOMS.

Call me a masochist, but yes, yes I do.

[cablespy]

soreness is not a sign of a good/bad workout.

what im basically saying is it doesn't matter if you are sore or not you should measure the success of your workouts by more size/strength

This is true.

Soreness and "the pump" do not indicate a good workout. A better measurement would be progression like increased weight or reps.

[LPMNDCTE]

This is DOMS:



You don't want DOMS.

In my opinion, I wouldn't want Doms either. I used to get them during the 1st weeks of training for Wrestling, Football, and track. Wrestling was the worst because we had to train the next day sore as hell. I could go without Doms. Workout to feel the burn instead of looking for soreness as a sign that you are making progress.

[msm172021121]

redundant but wtf- you work a muscle-you get that pain and discomfort(doms) you dont work that muscle for a day or so-it heals(grows)(hypertrophy) you work all your other muscles for the week in a similar manor, then repeat. it doeasnt matter if you get pain and discomfort, you want it, hell it wont stay long, dont be scarred

[msm172021121]

In my opinion, I wouldn't want Doms either. I used to get them during the 1st weeks of training for Wrestling, Football, and track. Wrestling was the worst because we had to train the next day sore as hell. I could go without Doms. Workout to feel the burn instead of looking for soreness as a sign that you are making progress.

if you train everyday for something like that its different. i wouldnt work through doms, that would be like training bi's 7 days in a row.

[Rook13]

"DOMS is typically experienced by all individuals regardless of fitness level, and is a normal physiological response to increased exertion, and the introduction of unfamiliar physical activities."

Well as much as you don't want them, chances are your probably going to get them. If your physically exerting yourself in a new manner to your body (i.e. a new workout with different exercises) then your probably going to get DOM's. The key about DOM's is being able to identify the good (Sore after a workout but can still do your normal day-to-day activities) from the bad (A sharp pain that occurs on one side of your body or soreness that prevents you from doing day-to-day activities).

[Drekkor]

wow, i'll leave that one to drekkor.

"Although the precise cause is still unknown, the type of muscle contraction seems to be a key factor in the development of DOMS. A theory recently developed states that DOMS is caused by the breakdown of muscular fibres. This is particularly apparent in Strength/Resistance programs. The breakdown occurs due to stress, and allows the muscle to grow stronger and larger, as shown through hypertrophy. Exercises that involve many eccentric contractions, such as downhill running, will result in the most severe DOMS. This has been shown to be the result of more muscle cell damage than is seen with typical concentric contractions, in which a muscle successfully shortens during contraction against a load.

Some research claims that DOMS is not caused by the pain from damaged muscle cells, but from the reinforcement process. The muscle responds to training by reinforcing itself up to and above its previous strength by increasing the size of muscle fibers (muscle hypertrophy). This reinforcement process causes the cells to sweel in their compartment and put pressure on teh nerves and arteries, producing pain."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed...uscle_soreness

[msm172021121]

"DOMS is typically experienced by all individuals regardless of fitness level, and is a normal physiological response to increased exertion, and the introduction of unfamiliar physical activities."

Well as much as you don't want them, chances are your probably going to get them. If your physically exerting yourself in a new manner to your body (i.e. a new workout with different exercises) then your probably going to get DOM's. The key about DOM's is being able to identify the good (Sore after a workout but can still do your normal day-to-day activities) from the bad (A sharp pain that occurs on one side of your body or soreness that prevents you from doing day-to-day activities).

exactly- and i hate it when people think doms is "overtraining". About 95% of people will never overtrain

[Drekkor]

exactly- and i hate it when people think doms is "overtraining". About 95% of people will never overtrain

Not saying I get sore every week either, but it's pretty much a standard part of every bb'ers or strength trainer's life at some point.

[Rook13]

Yeah pretty much. I came on here asking about one thing but it lead into another. I already know what DOM's are I was wondering if they were supposed to happen to your abs with as much frequency as they do your other muscles.

[msm172021121]

Yeah pretty much. I came on here asking about one thing but it lead into another. I already know what DOM's are I was wondering if they were supposed to happen to your abs with as much frequency as they do your other muscles.

yeah, that will happen. everyone is an expert on life on this site didnt you know? but seriously, do you have a lil bit more of an understanding now? weighted everything will make you sore, i promise

[Rook13]

Lol yes I understand better now. I'll probably do some weighted crunches tomorrow and see how it goes, thanks again.