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5 reasons why your muscles may be shaking after exercise

Most people have experienced quivering muscles after a workout and it's normal to presume it's th...
Newstalk
Newstalk

15.35 20 Jan 2014


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5 reasons why your muscles may...

5 reasons why your muscles may be shaking after exercise

Newstalk
Newstalk

15.35 20 Jan 2014


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Most people have experienced quivering muscles after a workout and it's normal to presume it's the result of pushing yourself. Exercise newbies usually think their shaking legs are the result of their low fitness levels, which is sometimes the case. Tremors can also be a sign that you've gone full-throttle while working out, but is that always a good thing?

1. Too little sleep

If you hit a cardio or weights class after a bad night's rest it's pretty much a given that your muscles will begin twitching at some point. Fitness and nutrition expert Jay Cardiello warns it's important to listen to your body in this instance. Sleep fortifies your body to grow, so if you miss it muscles can be catatonic. He advises catching up on the Zs rather than your workouts if you're tired.

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2. Extreme exercise

We all know it's important to be active, with recent reports suggesting women who lead sedentary lifestyles could be more likely to develop bowel, breast and womb cancer. The scare stories could be why there has been a spike in people looking to go all-out with their fitness routines, with more and more people testing themselves with marathons and triathlons. While there is nothing wrong with pushing yourself, have downtime too. If you're shaking as soon as you start your gym session, take some time out.

3. Too much too soon

Everyone has to start somewhere and we'd never try to put you off getting fit. But writing for Shape magazine Jay warns exercise first-timers shouldn't push themselves too hard. Shaking muscles could be a sign your body has had enough, try to carry on and the chances are you'll alter your form to compensate for the wobbling muscles. This could mean an injury somewhere else.

4. Dehydration

Muscles need to be hydrated for their electrolytes to function properly. If you haven't been drinking enough water you'll struggle to do even basic exercises the right way, leading to the quivers. Bodybuilder Blake Bissaillion advises drinking two eight-ounce glasses of water before a workout and three afterwards, according to Live Healthy.

5. Blood sugar

Shaking muscles can be a sign that your body needs more fuel, after all part of the reason for working out is to burn calories. Try eating a small smack half an hour before the gym and another afterwards - that should help the shaking stop in about 25 minutes. Tremors can also be a sign that the body needs potassium and sodium, so have bananas on standby.


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