is muscle soreness an indication of an effective workout?

[rockket]

this is my fourth week since beginning to work out. i've been feeling soreness in various areas - pecs, arms, back, abs - up until last week/this week.

i know that muscle soreness is associated with the start of a new routine, but now i'm wondering if soreness is something that i should use as an indicator of an effective work out. my googling efforts have turned up mixed responses.

i understand DOMS results, at least in part, from "micro tears," but does the absence of DOMS imply no micro tears, and thus no hypertrophy?

FWIW, i'm training mostly for hypertrophy at this point (i'm on the skinny side). workouts consist of bench press (incline and flat), rows, pullups, dips...leg injury preventing me from touching lower body at the moment. also, years of soccer/running have made me a bit disproportionate anyway.

thanks.
RK

 

[thekunk07]

why, explain.

 

[sonlegoman]

might be useful. You gotta know a bit of anatomy though. http://users.erols.com/physical/doms.htm I was an exercise physiology grad school hopeful before I decided grad school is a horrible lifestyle.

 

[James Bond]

Originally Posted by rockket

i understand DOMS results, at least in part, from "micro tears," but does the absence of DOMS imply no micro tears, and thus no hypertrophy?

No.

 

[why]

I think this was explained on another thread, but the answer is no.

 

[wahwho11]

nope.