After a tough chest workout, guys using barbells or machines feel sore in their triceps for a few days, but those using dumbbells don’t feel any soreness at all—even though they lifted the same total weight.

Just because your triceps feel sore doesn’t mean they’re damaged or weak—sometimes they feel sore even when they’ve fully recovered, and sometimes they’re fine even when they feel fine.

Even after a super hard chest workout, the size of the triceps muscles goes back to normal within a day—meaning the workout didn’t actually tear them up much.

No matter which type of chest press you do—machine, barbell, or dumbbells—you’ll feel about the same level of soreness in your chest muscles after a hard workout, and it’ll go away at the same rate.

Even though guys lifted the same total weight, those using barbells felt way more sore in their triceps for longer than those using dumbbells—suggesting barbells might be harder on the back of the arm.