Muscle Cramps Essay

Oxygen debt in the muscles is reached when oxygen levels are much lower than required during strenuous physical activity, causing lactate fermentation to occur in the cells leading to muscle fatigue. The results found in the experiment were the number of squeezes in the first trial for the dominant and non-dominant hands were significantly higher than the remaining ones. The results also showed as the trials continued, the number of muscle contractions decreased steadily which supported the hypothesis. However, there were some increased numbers for the dominant hand from trial 4 to 5 and trial 9 to 10. The non-dominant hand expressed similar unexpected results from trial 6 to 7 and trial 9 and 10. The reasons for these results might be due to the finger muscles being worked at the high intensity for a long period of time causing the muscles to consume higher amounts of oxygen thus producing more ATP production. This would cause the muscles to create more contractions towards the end of the trials. The unexpected results could also be caused by experimental errors such as faulty clothespins. The springs connecting the two ends of the clothespin was tight causing the number of contractions as the trials progressed having a more significant decrease. This is because the amount of energy required to open and close the clothespin would be higher, causing the lactate threshold to occur quicker. Due to this, the number of squeezes would decrease drastically as the trials progressed, in contrast to if the springs were normal. This would change the results by the difference between the trials not being evident therefore, not demonstrating the effects of muscle fatigue. Another factor that altered this experiment was the participant’s condition, Palmar Hyperhidrosis –excessive sweating on the palms – which

This activity is the critical driving force of muscle contraction. The stream of action potentials along the muscle fiber surface is terminated as Acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction is broken down by acetyl cholinesterase. The release of Calcium ions is ceased. The action of the myosin molecule heads is obstructed because of the change in the configuration of troponin and tropomyosin due to the absence of calcium ions. This will eventually cause the contraction to be ceased. Together with these physical processes, an external stretching force such as gravity pulls the muscle back to its normal length.

Hamstring Strains (HS) are identified by acute pain in the thigh with disruption of the muscle fibres, with 47% of all HS studies stating that the BF muscle is affected (3). This can be explained because the BF muscle tendon and muscle fibres are where the most common distribution of the ground force produced during running (3). Eccentric contraction is explained by a study from Guex (4) stating that between 75-85% of the running cycle the hamstrings are undergoing an active lengthening contraction. Having this amount of eccentric contraction upon the muscles has the potential to cause an overuse injury (4). At 85% of the running cycle, the SM, ST, and BF are stretched by 8.7-12.0% which is beyond their optimum lengths (4).

The causes for this muscle disorder are not completely understood, but there are several theories. According to the Mayo Clinic Staff, muscle cramps are caused by overuse of muscle, dehydration, muscle strain, or simply holding a position for a long period of time. In their article, “Muscle Cramps,” they also stated that cramps may be related to underlying medical condition such as inadequate blood supply, nerve compression, and mineral depletion (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2013). Getting inadequate blood supply affects the arteries that deliver blood to the legs producing cramps in the legs and feet while exercising. Another article called, “Muscle Cramps-Symptom Evaluation” also lists anemia, medications, kidney disorders, and hormonal problems as causes for this disorder.

Granted, the dehydration and electrolyte imbalance theory also has countless limitations. Muscle cramps may appear in the presence of significant electrolyte or fluid losses during exercise, however numerous other variables associated with exercise may be factors, such as accumulation of metabolites, intensity of exercise and acclimatization. Since athletes who experience muscle cramps often have significant fluid deficits, restoring body fluids is an appropriate solution against development of more serious forms of heat

Muscle fatigue is an exercise-induced reduction in the maximal force capacity of a muscle (Hunter 2004). In general, muscle fatigue causes a decline in muscle performance and contractibility. The purpose of this experiment was to determine just how much muscle fatigue affects muscle performance. We hypothesized that if the number of muscle contractions a person did increased then their reaction time would increase, and their skill task performance would diminish. To test this hypothesis a reaction time test and a skill task test were performed by each person in the group before inducing muscle fatigue.

Muscle fatigue is the process of exhaustion or strength lost, as well as muscular endurance that corresponds with the building up of lactic acid in the muscles (Medical Dictionary) Throughout the lab it was discovered that the greater the number of muscles in the body that are used, the more fatigue builds up, and it becomes difficult to use those muscles. According to table 1.2 and 1.3, there was a decrease in the number of squeezes of a clothespin that were completed in 30 seconds for each of the 10 trials. As the number of trials were increased it became difficult to press the clothes pin quickly and efficiently, causing the fingers’ pace to slow down. The first couple of trials were easily completed without muscle soreness since the

During exercise, the muscles work tirelessly in order for the body to be able to work out. After physical activity, the body usually has acute muscle soreness and delayed onset muscle soreness.

glycogenolysis. However, muscle fatigue depends on many factors and in our time, is still not

Exercising in hot, humid conditions can lead to hamstring cramps. When your body loses too much fluid through excessive sweating, you can also develop an electrolyte imbalance. Substances such as calcium, potassium and others are necessary to help your muscles contract properly. If your body is low in any of these substances -- either through a poor diet or dehydration -- your muscles can involuntarily contract and spasm. Drinking enough water and eating healthily before and after exercise can help resolve these kinds of cramps.

The stress placed on your muscles during exercising leads to tiny tears in your muscle fibres occurring, these tears will cause swelling in your muscle tissues, this creates pressure on the nerve ending and pain. In order to repair these micro tears protein, sufficient fuel and rest is needed making the muscle stronger.

Nearly anyone who works out regularly has experienced sore muscles after exercise. Sometimes you will feel it later that night, or the next morning and in some cases, you may actually think you are out of the woods, only to wake up two days later with stiff, tender muscles that feel as tight as rubber bands. For some people, sore muscles are a reward after a hard workout. In fact, some people are not happy unless they are sore after their workout, while others could live without it. Either way, all of us have probably experienced muscle soreness at one time or another.

Muscles normally contract and relax numerous times throughout the day as we move around. When a muscle or group of muscles forcibly and involuntarily contracts, it is called a spasm. If the spasm lasts for a period of time without returning to its relaxed state, it then becomes a cramp. Cramps are thought to be caused by over stimulated muscle nerves, which could be the result of any number of factors – injury, vitamin deficiency, dehydration, too much rest, medications, etc.

This is what causes us to be sore. The muscles then build back up, becoming stronger than before. (lifehacker.com) People still need to be careful when they exercise because they can hurt themselves or overexert themselves while doing it. Being a little sore for a 24-48 hour period is normal but when being sore is a severe pain, it was probably caused by overexertion. (lifehacker.com)

Maughan, R. J., Owen, J. H., Shirreffs, S. M., & Leiper, J. B. (1994). Post-exercise rehydration in man: effects of electrolyte addition to ingested fluids. European journal of applied physiology and occupational physiology, 69(3), 209-215.