Question

Why vigorous exercise sometimes results in muscular pain?

Answer 1

Hint: Muscles are soft tissues which are found in most animals. When there is lack of oxygen, the muscle cells respire anaerobically, to produce lactic acid.

Complete Answer:
- During strenuous exercise, our muscle cells run short of oxygen, as a result they breakdown the glucose to lactic acid anaerobically. When lactic acid builds up, gradually, it leads to muscle cramps and muscle fatigue.
- So during this heavy workout, we tend to breathe faster in an attempt to gain more and more oxygen, even though it does not fulfill the oxygen needs of our muscle cells. This is because our human body always prefers aerobic respiration over anaerobic.
- In the process of glycolysis, glucose is converted to pyruvate through multiple series of steps, and it is again broken down for more energy. But when the cells are short of oxygen, the body temporarily converts pyruvate into lactic acid and energy. This process takes place just to break down glucose and produce energy, so that the process can continue as it is. Hence, there is accumulation of extreme levels of lactic acid.
- This increase of lactate leads to disturbances in muscle cells' metabolism, due to increase in acidity of the muscle cells.
- So once the body starts to slow down, oxygen level again rises, and slowly lactic acid gets converted to pyruvic acid, reverting the whole process back to normal.

Note: Muscle soreness after heavy workout is referred to as delayed-onset muscle soreness, or DOMS. To decrease muscle pain after exercises, there are certain safety tips as follows;
- Drink lots and lots of water to keep hydrated, after and before exercising.
- A balanced healthy diet.
- A sound sleep.
- Warming up before a heavy workout.