Especially leg cramps after a workout. Seems like I never get arm muscle cramps in comparison too
In: 1
Muscles are basically engines that take oxygen as fuel. When you work out really hard, your muscles take even more oxygen, even more than what you might be able to breath in in 1 take to satisfy it.
This causes the muscles to work on less oxygen, and the muscles do NOT like working under less oxygen. When this happens, your muscles switch from using oxygen to make energy to using a different process that doesn’t need as much oxygen.
Theres a name for this phenomenon – Its called Anerobic Metabolism. Anerobic means in absence of, in this case – oxygen and metabolism means conversion of oxygen into energy (simple explanation). So basically, it means conversion of oxygen into energy in absence of energy. Its basically your muscles going full monkey mode and making energy without/with partial oxygen.
This comes with a cost, however. Incomplete metabolism/metabolism without oxygen produces a by product called Lactic acid. From the name, you can see that it is an acid. You can only imagine why it hurts when this lactic acid forms INSIDE your muscles.
Why does it form in leg muscles the most? Well, your leg muscles are the largest, and by far the strongest group of muscles in the human body. The more the muscles, the more the oxygen it needs, and the more lactic acid is formed 🙂
Muscles are basically engines that take oxygen as fuel. When you work out really hard, your muscles take even more oxygen, even more than what you might be able to breath in in 1 take to satisfy it.
This causes the muscles to work on less oxygen, and the muscles do NOT like working under less oxygen. When this happens, your muscles switch from using oxygen to make energy to using a different process that doesn’t need as much oxygen.
Theres a name for this phenomenon – Its called Anerobic Metabolism. Anerobic means in absence of, in this case – oxygen and metabolism means conversion of oxygen into energy (simple explanation). So basically, it means conversion of oxygen into energy in absence of energy. Its basically your muscles going full monkey mode and making energy without/with partial oxygen.
This comes with a cost, however. Incomplete metabolism/metabolism without oxygen produces a by product called Lactic acid. From the name, you can see that it is an acid. You can only imagine why it hurts when this lactic acid forms INSIDE your muscles.
Why does it form in leg muscles the most? Well, your leg muscles are the largest, and by far the strongest group of muscles in the human body. The more the muscles, the more the oxygen it needs, and the more lactic acid is formed 🙂
There are many causes of muscle cramps, common ones are dehydration, overworking the muscles, lack of proper nutrition, lactic acid buildup, etc.
(personal opinion) but if your feeling a lot of pain, its most likely that you are lacking in calcium/magnesium, and/or potassium.
other things to help would be stretch before and after any workout, and stay hydrated.
There are many causes of muscle cramps, common ones are dehydration, overworking the muscles, lack of proper nutrition, lactic acid buildup, etc.
(personal opinion) but if your feeling a lot of pain, its most likely that you are lacking in calcium/magnesium, and/or potassium.
other things to help would be stretch before and after any workout, and stay hydrated.
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