What causes muscle pain?

Muscle pain usually comes from overexertion in activities or sports that we are not used to. It can happen while actively participating in the effort such as when we sprain, strain or tear a muscle and feel immediate pain. This form of muscle soreness has a sudden, specific onset of pain that occurs during activity. Bruising and swelling often accompany this type of injury.

Pain during exercise can also be caused by a spasm, which inhibits arterial blood flow, preventing sufficient oxygen supply to the area. This is known as claudication and can be experienced as cramps or muscle pain in the lower leg. The pain will subside if you rest. The most common cause of mild to intermediate claudication is this spasm, which restricts blood flow to the artery. More severe cases can be the result of atherosclerosis or a complete blockage of an artery. This is an indication to get immediate medical attention.

For mild to moderate claudication conditions, rest is the best pain treatment. Walking or swimming is recommended before resuming your activity, as this will increase your endurance while allowing your body to rest with low-impact exercise. Low doses of aspirin, statin drugs, or blood pressure medications are commonly prescribed to help relieve the condition. An immediate pain relief for muscle cramps in the lower leg or foot is to lower the heel to stretch the back of the leg to stimulate blood flow and oxygen delivery.

Most commonly, muscle soreness is a delayed response that occurs 24 to 72 hours after exercise. It is known as "late-onset muscle soreness (DOMS)" or "muscle fever." It usually lasts two to three days, depending on the severity.

There are various professional opinions on the cause of DOMS. It is often attributed to the buildup of lactic acid in the muscles. However, lactic acid disperses quickly, so it should not be attributed to pain experienced several days later. On the other hand, it is a well-known fact that taking additional calcium immediately after strenuous exercise will reduce or eliminate typical DOMS pain.

Another theory is that muscle contractions, which are experienced during any downward movement such as running downhill, going down stairs, lowering weights, squats, or push-ups can cause muscle soreness. These movements can cause microscopic tears in muscle tissue. This causes pain, stiffness, and swelling.

Others hypothesize that this muscle soreness is not the result of microscopic muscle fiber breakdown, but rather the repair process, which builds stronger and larger muscles. This is called hypertrophy. They believe that the adaptive cycle of muscle soreness, subsequent required rest, and hypertrophy are indicators that the bodybuilding regimen is successful.

Many believe that, regardless of the cause, an inflammatory environment is created through strenuous activity. Elevated white blood cell counts confirm this theory. This is another argument for taking extra calcium, as it will alkalize and relieve these inflammations. The agreed-upon treatments for pain relief for these conditions are stretching before and after exercise, alternating ice and heat packs, elevating the area, massage along with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Vitamin C, antioxidant supplements, and homeopathic remedies such as Arnica montana, Rhus toxicodendron, and sarcolactic acid have all been shown to be helpful.

It's best to stick to a routine that gradually increases the intensity of your workout. You should maintain a level that increases no more than ten percent per week. Rest, swimming, and brisk walking are great options for your body during the time it needs to rest, heal, and rejuvenate. As with any condition, the best treatment is prevention.

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