Fat Loss 4 Idiots Secret

Friday, August 14, 2009

The Reasons for Swelling after Workout

By Jesse Regan

Most of us have probably experienced muscle swelling or soreness after a workout. Although this doesn't happen all the time, muscle swelling often happens after having intense work outs. But what causes muscle swelling in the first place?

Muscle soreness or swelling is a common consequence of hard and vigorous exercises like intense weight lifting, nonstop stair climber on the gym, and great speed on the track. When our muscles are working hard, they produce a byproduct known as lactic acid. This product can cause irritation and discomfort to the muscles which will then lead to muscle swelling. However, muscle swelling caused by lactic acid only lasts a few hours to less than a day after the work out. For muscle swelling that stays for two days and over, there is a totally different explanation.

People who are in a goal of building up huge muscles, they tend to subject their muscles to exercises that are so intense and far greater than their capacities. When this happens, muscle is damaged but is repaired immediately through the aid of white blood cells, prostaglandins, and other fluids and nutrients. The influx of these fluids causes a discomforting effect on the muscles that trigger swelling. This certain damage is microscopic and is healed depending on how intense the work out was. This makes a good reason why muscle swelling lasts from 2 to 5 days maximum.

A wrong belief has been going around among gym enthusiasts insisting that muscle swelling is a vital component for muscle growth. In actuality, muscle still grows and makes us stronger even when we don't get to encounter muscle soreness. But muscle swelling causes several disadvantages like dramatically decreased strength, difficulty in walking, and the feeling of being uncomfortable that can go on for a few days.

One common remedy for muscle swelling is an anti-inflammatory drug. But this type of drug has a varied effect depending on its timing. Previously conducted studies have shown that taking an anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen before a workout has more positive effects on the swelling compared to taking the drug after the exercises. Another wrong belief is that some people trust solely on pre-stretches in preventing some muscle swellings. But there were some studies that have proven the ineffectiveness of pre-stretches with regards to muscle swelling.

Probably the best and the most relaxing remedy for muscle swelling is a massage. Several careful investigations have found out that those who received massages after their work outs experience 30% less soreness on their muscles compared to those who have not. But you may have some confusion in within you as to whether or not continue your work out even when you have muscle swelling. If you do have one, it is best if you know the exact muscles that have swelling. After which, you can then try those muscles on some light exercises. If the soreness of your muscle seems to have no effect on your workout performance, you can then proceed on the full work out itself. But if swelling happens to get worse, it is much preferable to stop the work out and have some rest. It is important to bear in mind that damaged muscles require more time for them to fully recover before they start growing. It is necessary for you to have more valuable information about results driven workout if you're aiming for fitness. - 17274

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