What Happens to Your Body After A Workout?

Category: Health

After working out, the body and muscles are in desperate need of reparation, and it takes time for your body to function regularly. There are certain physiological effects of exercise that happen to your body after a workout. Muscle repair, lactic acid build-up, tiredness and/or exhaustion, and dehydration are four of the physiological effects that happen to your body after working out. Here is an in-depth look into these four physical effects of working out: 1. Muscle Repair While you work out, your body’s muscles are actually being torn. After being put through strenuous activity, your body’s muscles then begin to repair themselves, which is how muscles are built. Through the process of muscle reparation, people often feel very sore. During the post-workout phase an athlete can reduce soreness by taking part in a cool-down routine. This allows the body temperature to drop slowly, move lactic acid out of muscle tissue, and speed muscle repair and rebuilding. Over time your body will become familiar with the amount of energy released from a workout and your muscles naturally begin repairing themselves and recovery time will decrease. This is what allows athletes to still push the boundaries of their body and reach new heights even while in a recovery mode. 2. Lactic Acid Build Up After you exercise, lactic acid builds up throughout your muscles and limbs. Lactic acid occurs in your body when carbohydrates are broken down to use for energy during a workout. The buildup of lactic acid is the reason that you may feel sore after exercising. You can decrease your soreness during the post-workout by: Stretching Rolling out your legs and arms with a foam roller Drinking plenty of water Have warm-up and cool-down routines 3. Tiredness or Exhaustion After pushing your body to its limits you will likely feel tired and even exhausted. One of the most basic physiological effects of exercise include feeling sore from muscle reparation and the limitation of oxygen delivery to muscles that happens during a workout. This exertion, or overexertion, often causes tiredness and can even lead to adverse effects such as nausea, fatigue, muscle strain, and even injuries. 4. Dehydration When you strain your body vigorously with exercise, you lose vital fluid and become dehydrated. If you anticipate a strenuous workout, you should ensure you begin your fluid intake before working out which will allow you to feel hydrated the next time you exercise. Sweat is excreted to promote heat loss, but it also causes fluid loss and a possible electrolyte shortage. After exerting a significant amount of energy and sweating, fluid intake should be amped up to form a source of substrate in the form of a carbohydrate. This causes the body to feel hydrated and allows an athlete to exert energy beyond their perceived capabilities. To reduce dehydration: Drink water before, during and after working out Drink sports enhanced fluid with electrolytes Take all of these things into account the next time you exercise and you will be more prepared for your next workout and how to best recover!