Time for DOMS to set in depending on workout type?

Problem Of Motivation

I know that the amount of time it takes DOMS to set in can vary, but in the last few years I've found usually get it within 24 hours. Although my initial memories of DOMS would have been with the soreness taking about 48 hours to set it.

But just today I noticed that it took 48 hours after my run the other day. My question is, what does the onset time mean? Some people think that it takes a different amount of time depending on the person. I wouldn't be inclined to believe that as I've experienced both long and short onset times.

I usually get it in just under 24 hours after my usual sprinting up hills. In the case I'm referring to today I did a slightly different form of running; it was a bigger and steeper hill, and I didn't sprint up it, I just jogged. It was more strenuous than what I usually do. And although it took this long for it to set in, there's slightly less soreness than usual. As I didn't feel any soreness yesterday, I thought I'd actually got away with it.

Alf Veedersane

There are a lot of factors that impact on DOMS. There's no particular reason for the timeline of peak DOMS.

Problem Of Motivation

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

There are a lot of factors that impact on DOMS. There's no particular reason for the timeline of peak DOMS.

There's a reason for everything.

Alf Veedersane

Problem Of Motivation wrote: »

There's a reason for everything.

"There's no particular reason for the timeline of peak DOMS"

There is no particular reason that someone can point to because it's complex.

There are a whole host of factors that may impact DOMS...existing micro-injuries, differing lactic acid levels, minor connective tissue and how that might affect muscles, hydration levels, etc etc.

So I'm not saying that there's not a reason. Just that it would be very difficult to pinpoint the reason.

antix80

The first time I did bench-pressing I got DOMS. The first time I did loads of heavy squats I got DOMS. It's nearly like a badge of honour feeling that dull pain.

I'm sure if I exercised an obscure muscle using heavy weights I'd experience DOMS in that muscle. But I can't understand people talking about DOMS after every workout. Is it just newbies bragging, are people injuring themselves and mistaking it for DOMS, or am I just not pushing myself enough?

Problem Of Motivation

antix80 wrote: »

The first time I did bench-pressing I got DOMS. The first time I did loads of heavy squats I got DOMS. It's nearly like a badge of honour feeling that dull pain.

I'm sure if I exercised an obscure muscle using heavy weights I'd experience DOMS in that muscle. But I can't understand people talking about DOMS after every workout. Is it just newbies bragging, are people injuring themselves and mistaking it for DOMS, or am I just not pushing myself enough?

In my case in go fro a run every 5 days. So I suppose what happens to me is that my fitness level begins to go down after several days. If I were doing it every 3 days, I probably wouldn't get it.

But yeah, I reckon most people over do it. They think it's a case of no pain, no gain.

Zillah

antix80 wrote: »

The first time I did bench-pressing I got DOMS. The first time I did loads of heavy squats I got DOMS. It's nearly like a badge of honour feeling that dull pain.

I'm sure if I exercised an obscure muscle using heavy weights I'd experience DOMS in that muscle. But I can't understand people talking about DOMS after every workout. Is it just newbies bragging, are people injuring themselves and mistaking it for DOMS, or am I just not pushing myself enough?

Yeah I only ever gets DOMS when I try something new or do an extremely tough workout (especially with high reps).

Mellor

Problem Of Motivation wrote: »

In my case in go fro a run every 5 days. So I suppose what happens to me is that my fitness level begins to go down after several days. If I were doing it every 3 days, I probably wouldn't get it.

Doms isn't due to a drop in fitness.
Your fitness isn't even likely be fluctuating at all.

Problem Of Motivation

Mellor wrote: »

Doms isn't due to a drop in fitness.
Your fitness isn't even likely be fluctuating at all.

Well it would be. Because I notice that if I leave a long period between my jogs (say 7 days instead of 4 days), I'll notice that I'm more likely to get DOMS.

Transform

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

There are a lot of factors that impact on DOMS. There's no particular reason for the timeline of peak DOMS.

generally its due to a change in 1) loading 2) volume 3) intensity

Ill add that soreness isnt and shouldnt be the goal - progress should be the goal

Alf Veedersane

Transform wrote: »

generally its due to a change in 1) loading 2) volume 3) intensity

Ill add that soreness isnt and shouldnt be the goal - progress should be the goal

Absolutely. But there can be variations in timing or 'soreness' of the DOMS for different reasons.

Usually just it either when I start back into high volume training after a peak.

Mellor

Problem Of Motivation wrote: »

Well it would be. Because I notice that if I leave a long period between my jogs (say 7 days instead of 4 days), I'll notice that I'm more likely to get DOMS.

Longer rest periods contribute to DOMs. The incorrect part is your assumption that change in fitness is the reason. You are incorrect.

An extra 3 days rest doesn't cause fitness to change significantly in short term. And being minutely fitter doesn't prevent DOMs. You assumptions hold no water tbh.

Bob Harris

Isn't part of fitness and being fit your ability to recover?
If two people run the same distance in the same time and the same perceived effort and one is fresh and can do it again the next day and the other can barely walk because of DOMS then I wouldn't consider them to be equally fit.

Problem Of Motivation

Mellor wrote: »

Longer rest periods contribute to DOMs. The incorrect part is your assumption that change in fitness is the reason. You are incorrect.

Yeah so the muscles aren't as "fit" after the longer rest. Otherwise it would have to be big coincidence that I only get DOMS when I haven't exercised with a while. You're saying the muscle is equally as fit/strong after an extra 3 day rest, yet for some bizarre reason it's more likely to suffer from DOMS.

Mellor wrote: »

An extra 3 days rest doesn't cause fitness to change significantly

Of course not, but there'll be enough of a "change" (drop) to increases my chances of DOMS the next day.

Mellor

Bob Harris wrote: »

Isn't part of fitness and being fit your ability to recover?
If two people run the same distance in the same time and the same perceived effort and one is fresh and can do it again the next day and the other can barely walk because of DOMS then I wouldn't consider them to be equally fit.

There’s so many variables involved. Assuming it equates to fitness level is a mistake.

Transform

Mellor wrote: »

There’s so many variables involved. Assuming it equates to fitness level is a mistake.

mobility plays a role in that also - if you're running with a body thats stiff tight and weak i would expect more soreness the next day vs someone with a stronger more mobile body.

sleep, stress, nutrition etc play a role also

Mellor

Transform wrote: »

mobility plays a role in that also - if you're running with a body thats stiff tight and weak i would expect more soreness the next day vs someone with a stronger more mobile body.

sleep, stress, nutrition etc play a role also

Exactly. Virtually everything could be w factor.
And then a mix it all with a liberal side of randomness.

Biodegradable

Mellor wrote: »

Longer rest periods contribute to DOMs. The incorrect part is your assumption that change in fitness is the reason. You are incorrect.

Then why do longer rest periods contribute to DOMS? And who told you that?

Alf Veedersane

Biodegradable wrote: »

Then why do longer rest periods contribute to DOMS? And who told you that?

He means gaps between training sessions rather than rests between sets

Biodegradable

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

He means gaps between training sessions rather than rests between sets

I know that. My question still stands. He was claiming that one doesn't get less fit with longer 'gaps', but yet that a person is more susceptible to DOMS with longer gaps. The OP was claiming that the higher chances of DOMS with longer gaps is due to a decrease in fitness.

Alf Veedersane

Biodegradable wrote: »

I know that. My question still stands. He was claiming that one doesn't get less fit with longer 'gaps', but yet that a person is more susceptible to DOMS with longer gaps. The OP was claiming that the higher chances of DOMS with longer gaps is due to a decrease in fitness.

Fitness, ie cardiovascular fitness won't have an impact on DOMS.

ETA: the OP said that if they left it 7 days between two runs, they'd be more likely to get DOMS than if they left it 4 days. What Mellor said that wouldn't make a difference in the short term, I.e. if it's normally 4 days between runs but one time its 7 days, fitness won't have reduced. If the OP changed frequency from every 4 days to every 7 days, then of course fitness will reduce in the longer term.

Either way, changes in cardiovascular fitness won't impact muscle soreness.

Biodegradable

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

Fitness, ie cardiovascular fitness won't have an impact on DOMS.

Okay, that makes sense. But what about muscle fitness? which I guess is what I was thinking of.

Alf Veedersane

Biodegradable wrote: »

Okay, that makes sense. But what about muscle fitness? which I guess is what I was thinking of.

People usually mean cardiovascular fitness when they say 'fitness'.

Then it depends what you mean by muscle fitness.

But a change of a couple of days won't make a difference if that's the only variable that's changed. If the OP was normally doing runs on the flat and then, on occasion (ie not programmed or regular) throws in hill sprints, they will get DOMS. It's the variation and intensity of work the muscles are doing.

If the OP does the same hill sprints every four days but it becomes 7 days between runs every so often, then the reason for the DOMS won't be the fact that it was 7 days since the last run instead of 4.

Mellor

Biodegradable wrote: »

I know that. My question still stands. He was claiming that one doesn't get less fit with longer 'gaps', but yet that a person is more susceptible to DOMS with longer gaps. The OP was claiming that the higher chances of DOMS with longer gaps is due to a decrease in fitness.

It you train everyday, then take a week off you don’t get less fit or strong. If anything, you see an increase in fitness and strength.

So the fact it doesn’t happen, is why it’s not the cause of DOMS.

Biodegradable

Mellor wrote: »

So the fact it doesn’t happen, is why it’s not the cause of DOMS.

Then what is?

Alf Veedersane

Biodegradable wrote: »

Then what is?

That's been outlined earlier in the thread...there are a multitude of variables that come into play