Causes of Muscle Soreness After Exercise
Disease description:
I usually have a habit of exercising, but recently I've noticed that every time after working out, my muscles become extremely sore the next day. My arms and legs are difficult to lift, especially right after exercising, when my muscles feel tight and stiff. Why is this happening? What causes muscle soreness after exercise?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Chen Jian
Causes of muscle soreness after exercise include:
1. Lactic acid buildup: Intense exercise increases the body's oxygen consumption, thereby accelerating the process of anaerobic glycolysis, leading to a significant accumulation of acidic byproducts such as lactic acid. These acidic substances increase muscle osmotic pressure, enhance the muscle's water-absorbing capacity, and cause local tissue swelling, which can trigger muscle soreness. This is one of the main causes of post-exercise muscle soreness and usually improves with rest.
2. Muscle microdamage: When engaging in new or high-intensity exercises, especially activities such as downhill running or deep squats, muscle fibers undergo a certain degree of microdamage. This damage leads to protein breakdown within the muscle tissue, triggering a localized inflammatory response that causes muscle soreness.
3. Inflammatory response: Following muscle damage, the body initiates repair mechanisms and releases various inflammatory mediators, such as prostaglandins and interleukins, to promote the repair of damaged muscle tissue. These inflammatory mediators not only participate in the healing process but also stimulate nerve endings, resulting in pain sensations.
4. Improper exercise technique: Incorrect exercise methods, such as poor posture or improper movement patterns, can also lead to uneven muscle loading, thereby causing muscle soreness.
