Acute muscle soreness

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Acute muscle soreness (AMS) is the pain felt in muscles during and immediately, up to 24 hours, after strenuous physical exercise. The pain appears within a minute of contracting the muscle and it will disappear within two or three minutes or up to several hours after relaxing it. [1]

Contents

There are two causes of acute muscle soreness: [1]

Cause

Muscle soreness can stem from strain on the sarcomere, the muscle's functional unit, due to the mechanism of activation of the unit by the nerves, which accumulates calcium that further degrades sarcomeres. [2] This degradation initiates the body inflammatory response, and has to be supported by surrounding connective tissues. The inflammatory cells and cytokines stimulate the pain receptors that cause the acute pain associated with AMS. Repair of the sarcomere and the surrounding connective tissue leads to delayed onset muscle soreness, which peaks between 24 and 72 hours after exercise.[ citation needed ]

AMS may also be caused by cramping following strenuous exercise, which has been theorized[ by whom? ] to be caused by two pathways:

Dehydration

The dehydration theory states that extracellular fluid (ECF) compartment becomes contracted due to the excessive sweating, causing the volume to decrease to the point until the muscles are contracted until the fluids can re-inhabit the vacuum. [3] Excessive sweating can also cause the electrolyte imbalance theory, which is sweating disturbs the body's balance of electrolyte, which results in exciting motor neurons and spontaneous discharge.[ citation needed ]

The feeling of soreness can also be attributed to the lack of contraction from the muscle, which can lead to overexertion of the muscle. The decrease in contraction has been theorized to have been caused by the high level of concentrations of proton created by glycolysis. [3] Excess in protons displaces calcium ions which is used within the fibers in activating the sarcomere, resulting in a reduced contractile force.[ citation needed ]

Electrolyte imbalance

When exercising, lactic acid becomes lactate and H+ through glycolysis. With more lactic acid consumed during the process, there will be a higher H+ concentration, thus lowering the blood’s pH level. This low pH level will affect the energy production process through the inhibition of phosphofructokinase. Phosphofructokinase is a key enzyme in the glycolytic process, which produces energy. A higher concentration of H+ will also cause the loss of contractile force through the misplacement of calcium in muscle fiber, which will disturb the formation of the actin-myosin cross-bridge. [4]

Treatments

There is conflicting research in terms of treatments of muscle soreness.[ citation needed ]

Stretching and muscle soreness

Stretching immediately before or after a workout does provide some help, but is not significant enough to be considered as a preventative measure. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glycolysis</span> Series of interconnected biochemical reactions

Glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate and, in most organisms, occurs in the liquid part of cells. The free energy released in this process is used to form the high-energy molecules adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). Glycolysis is a sequence of ten reactions catalyzed by enzymes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adenosine monophosphate deaminase deficiency type 1</span> Medical condition

Adenosine monophosphate deaminase deficiency type 1 or AMPD1, is a human metabolic disorder in which the body consistently lacks the enzyme AMP deaminase, in sufficient quantities. This may result in exercise intolerance, muscle pain and muscle cramping. The disease was formerly known as myoadenylate deaminase deficiency (MADD).

The muscular system is an organ system consisting of skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscle. It permits movement of the body, maintains posture, and circulates blood throughout the body. The muscular systems in vertebrates are controlled through the nervous system although some muscles can be completely autonomous. Together with the skeletal system in the human, it forms the musculoskeletal system, which is responsible for the movement of the body.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lactic acid</span> Group of stereoisomers

Lactic acid is an organic acid. It has the molecular formula CH3CH(OH)COOH. It is white in the solid state and it is miscible with water. When in the dissolved state, it forms a colorless solution. Production includes both artificial synthesis as well as natural sources. Lactic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) due to the presence of a hydroxyl group adjacent to the carboxyl group. It is used as a synthetic intermediate in many organic synthesis industries and in various biochemical industries. The conjugate base of lactic acid is called lactate. The name of the derived acyl group is lactoyl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lactic acid fermentation</span> Series of interconnected biochemical reactions

Lactic acid fermentation is a metabolic process by which glucose or other six-carbon sugars are converted into cellular energy and the metabolite lactate, which is lactic acid in solution. It is an anaerobic fermentation reaction that occurs in some bacteria and animal cells, such as muscle cells.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhabdomyolysis</span> Human disease (condition) in which damaged skeletal muscle breaks down rapidly

Rhabdomyolysis is a condition in which damaged skeletal muscle breaks down rapidly, often due to high intensity exercise over a short period of time. Symptoms may include muscle pains, weakness, vomiting, and confusion. There may be tea-colored urine or an irregular heartbeat. Some of the muscle breakdown products, such as the protein myoglobin, are harmful to the kidneys and can cause acute kidney injury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lactic acidosis</span> Metabolic medical condition

Lactic acidosis is a medical condition characterized by a build-up of lactate in the body, with formation of an excessively low pH in the bloodstream. It is a form of metabolic acidosis, in which excessive acid accumulates due to a problem with the body's oxidative metabolism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cramp</span> Pathological, often painful, involuntary muscle contraction

A cramp is a sudden, involuntary, painful skeletal muscle contraction or overshortening associated with electrical activity; while generally temporary and non-damaging, they can cause significant pain and a paralysis-like immobility of the affected muscle. A cramp usually goes away on its own over a period of several seconds or (sometimes) minutes. Cramps are common and tend to occur at rest, usually at night. They are also often associated with pregnancy, physical exercise or overexertion, age, in such cases, cramps are called idiopathic, because there is no underlying pathology. In addition to those benign conditions cramps are also associated with many pathological conditions.

Acidosis is a process causing increased acidity in the blood and other body tissues. If not further qualified, it usually refers to acidity of the blood plasma.

Alkalosis is the result of a process reducing hydrogen ion concentration of arterial blood plasma (alkalemia). In contrast to acidemia, alkalemia occurs when the serum pH is higher than normal. Alkalosis is usually divided into the categories of respiratory alkalosis and metabolic alkalosis or a combined respiratory/metabolic alkalosis.

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is the pain and stiffness felt in muscles after unaccustomed or strenuous exercise. The soreness is felt most strongly 24 to 72 hours after the exercise. It is thought to be caused by eccentric (lengthening) exercise, which causes small-scale damage (microtrauma) to the muscle fibers. After such exercise, the muscle adapts rapidly to prevent muscle damage, and thereby soreness, if the exercise is repeated.

Muscle fatigue is when muscles that were initially generating a normal amount of force, then experience a declining ability to generate force. It can be a result of vigorous exercise, but abnormal fatigue may be caused by barriers to or interference with the different stages of muscle contraction. There are two main causes of muscle fatigue: the limitations of a nerve’s ability to generate a sustained signal ; and the reduced ability of the muscle fiber to contract.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anaerobic exercise</span> Physical exercise intense enough to cause lactate formation

Anaerobic exercise is a type of exercise that breaks down glucose in the body without using oxygen; anaerobic means "without oxygen". In practical terms, this means that anaerobic exercise is more intense, but shorter in duration than aerobic exercise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phosphofructokinase deficiency</span> Medical condition

Phosphofructokinase deficiency is a rare muscular metabolic disorder, with an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern.

A charley horse is an American term for a painful involuntary cramp in the legs and/or foot, lasting anywhere from a few seconds to a day. The term formerly referred more commonly to bruising of the quadriceps muscle of the anterior or lateral thigh, or contusion of the femur, that commonly results in a haematoma and sometimes several weeks of pain and disability. In this latter sense, such an injury is known as dead leg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cori cycle</span> Series of interconnected biochemical reactions

The Cori cycle, named after its discoverers, Carl Ferdinand Cori and Gerty Cori, is a metabolic pathway in which lactate, produced by anaerobic glycolysis in muscles, is transported to the liver and converted to glucose, which then returns to the muscles and is cyclically metabolized back to lactate.

Muscle weakness is a lack of muscle strength. Its causes are many and can be divided into conditions that have either true or perceived muscle weakness. True muscle weakness is a primary symptom of a variety of skeletal muscle diseases, including muscular dystrophy and inflammatory myopathy. It occurs in neuromuscular junction disorders, such as myasthenia gravis. Muscle weakness can also be caused by low levels of potassium and other electrolytes within muscle cells. It can be temporary or long-lasting. The term myasthenia is from my- from Greek μυο meaning "muscle" + -asthenia ἀσθένεια meaning "weakness".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bioenergetic systems</span> Metabolic processes for energy production

Bioenergetic systems are metabolic processes that relate to the flow of energy in living organisms. Those processes convert energy into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the form suitable for muscular activity. There are two main forms of synthesis of ATP: aerobic, which uses oxygen from the bloodstream, and anaerobic, which does not. Bioenergetics is the field of biology that studies bioenergetic systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lactate dehydrogenase</span> Class of enzymes

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH or LD) is an enzyme found in nearly all living cells. LDH catalyzes the conversion of pyruvate to lactate and back, as it converts NAD+ to NADH and back. A dehydrogenase is an enzyme that transfers a hydride from one molecule to another.

Exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER) is the breakdown of muscle from extreme physical exertion. It is one of many types of rhabdomyolysis that can occur, and because of this, the exact prevalence and incidence are unclear.

References

  1. 1 2 "Why am I sore after exercise? Should I workout with sore muscles?". www.cfaortho.com. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  2. ↑ Nelson, Nicole L.; Churilla, James R. (August 2016). "A narrative review of exercise-associated muscle cramps: Factors that contribute to neuromuscular fatigue and management implications: Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps". Muscle & Nerve. 54 (2): 177–185. doi:10.1002/mus.25176. PMID   27159592. S2CID   206297548.
  3. 1 2 Layzer, Robert B. (November 1994). "The origin of muscle fasciculations and cramps". Muscle & Nerve. 17 (11): 1243–1249. doi:10.1002/mus.880171102. ISSN   0148-639X. PMID   7935546. S2CID   20514056.
  4. ↑ Myers, Jonathan; Ashley, Euan (1997-03-01). "Dangerous Curves: A Perspective on Exercise, Lactate, and the Anaerobic Threshold". Chest. 111 (3): 787–795. doi: 10.1378/chest.111.3.787 . ISSN   0012-3692. PMID   9118720.
  5. ↑ Herbert, Rob D; Gabriel, Michael (2002-08-31). "Effects of stretching before and after exercising on muscle soreness and risk of injury: systematic review". BMJ. 325 (7362): 468. doi:10.1136/bmj.325.7362.468. ISSN   0959-8138. PMC   119442 . PMID   12202327.
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