explain
pain
section
3
page
52
The truth about muscles
M
uscles take a lot of blame for pain.
Advertisements for products tomanagemuscle
pain abound and it is easy to think that you have
torn amuscle. But let’s see if we can put muscle
pain in perspective with these six key points.
1.
Muscles havemany sensors in them so they
can easily be a significant contributor to a pain
experience.
2.
Muscles can become unhealthy andweak,
especially if they are underused, or used in
ways towhich they are not suited.
3.
Muscles are actually quite hard to injure. Sure
they bruise a bit, microtears (small injuries to
the lining of muscle fibres) can happen, but it
is difficult to severely injure amuscle. There
can be a build-up of acid, whichwill make the
alarm bells ring, and sometimes new exercises
can be associatedwith delayed onset pain in
muscles – perhaps eight hours after activity.
This pain can hang around for a few days and
may be quite worrying if sufferers don’t
understandwhy. Delayedmuscle pains often
occur after eccentric exercise wheremuscles
contract as they lengthen (for example the
bicepsmuscle when you lower a weight). But
in general, muscles are very responsive,
stretchy structures. They have to be to protect
you and allow you to express yourself.
4.
Muscles have a great blood supply, sowhen
they become injured they are champion
healers. After all, movement and protection are
so important to our survival. If you have ever
damaged your tongue, youwould know how
much it hurts and how quickly it heals. Your
tongue ismade of muscle and eating and
speaking are very important for life.
