Muscle Pain

There are about 620 skeletal muscles in the body. These are the ones which move limbs and spine and produce movement. They are also called voluntary muscles because, unlike the muscles of the blood vessels and internal organs such as the stomach and heart, we can exert conscious, voluntary control over them. Skeletal muscles are made up of bundles of parallel fibers and these are enclosed in a strong membrane. The bulge in the middle of a muscle is where the number of fibers is greatest. Each fiber is composed of a large number of slim filaments which can contract and expand like elastic.  When thousands of these work together the muscle contracts.

Muscle Pain Relief

For a voluntary movement to take place, a message from the brain travels along nerves to the muscles required to work, then the end of the nerve releases a chemical which almost instantaneously sets off a chain of reactions which will lead to a release of energy. Only part of this chemical energy is converted into activity, the rest is generated as heat. The process involves the chemical breakdown of glycogen, a form of sugar, in the presence of oxygen, both of which are transported to the muscles by the bloodstream. So the maintenance of good circulation is necessary for muscle action.

Why Muscles Ache

In addition to heat being generated, the breakdown of glycogen produces fatigue products, mainly lactic acid.  This is cleared away in the blood steam, particularly in the relaxation phase of the movement. 

• When the circulation is impeded by prolonged contraction of  muscles, however, there will be an accumulation of lactic acid and it is this that leads to pain, stiffness and physical fatigue.
   

• This is understandable and acceptable when it is the result of strenuous activity but is unnecessary when it is the result of poor use of the muscles.
   

• Good circulation and muscle relaxation are therefore necessary to reduce the effects of lactic acid in the muscles.

Muscles Relaxation

Intermittent tension does no harm at all; it is the small continuous abuses that do the greatest damage. Rhythmical exercise, by the alternate contraction and relaxation of muscles, will improve circulation and avoid or mitigate the pain and fatigue caused by muscle tension. You can probably remember times when you felt too tired to go out in the evening but, after a night of dancing, the backache and tiredness had gone and you felt refreshed. This was not just the result of enjoying yourself but also the effect of rhythmical activity assisting muscle relaxation.

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