Muscle soreness, also known as ‘ Delayed Onset Muscle Pain’, is surrounded by false myths about its origin and prevention.
- We have all suffered muscle discomfort at some time after having performed a physical exercise that is greater than what we are used to. This pain in the muscles is what is commonly called soreness and can be accompanied by inflammation.
- Its name is due precisely to the erroneous theory about its origin established in 1956 by Rasmussen, and which has become a true urban legend.
- According to this study, the pain was due to the appearance of lactic acid microcrystals derived from a fermentation process in muscle cells, which under conditions of anoxia (lack of oxygen), as occurs in situations of intense exercise, fermented nutrients to get energy.
- This theory has been rejected by the scientific community, since it has been proven that people with McCredie’s disease, unable to produce lactic acid, also suffer from muscle aches.
Micro tears in muscle fibers
- In reality, the experts bet on the theory of muscle micro-rupture as the origin of the pain produced by the shoelaces. The muscle fibers are affected by the practice of an exercise that is too intense for their training.
- The theory is old, having been promulgated by Hough and published in 1902 in the American Journal of Physiology. It is currently the most accepted within the scientific community.
Myths when it comes to preventing shoelaces
- If the origin of muscle pain is surrounded by myths, much more the way to combat shoelaces. Consuming water with sugar or bicarbonate before exercising is completely ineffective, according to the physical therapist Miguel López on his blog.
- Experts agree that the best way to avoid the appearance of muscle pain is to perform a good warm-up beforehand, as well as to maintain a continuous exercise routine. Once the symptoms have already appeared, muscle massages are the most recommended treatment.