As you work out, your body breaks down sugar into a range of different substances in order to supply your muscles with energy. Providing you are obtaining sufficient oxygen, the end products are water and carbon dioxide. If you are exercising vigorously and not getting enough oxygen the reactions come to a halt and the body creates lactic acid which will build up in your muscles and enter the bloodstream. But does lactic acid production actually cause fatigue?
Lactic Acid and Fatigue
Many athletic trainers used to believe that when lactic acid is produced during exercise it makes the muscle tissue more acidic, causing pain and interfering with muscle performance. Recent research has shown that quite the opposite is the case. Not only does lactic acid not cause muscle fatigue, it may also help the muscle to work more efficiently, which can lead to higher endurance.
Lactic Acid and Muscle
During a period of intense exercise, lactic acid levels will increase faster than the body is able to metabolize it. This can be beneficial for athletes because while the body is manufacturing lactic acid, it is also generating muscle energy. However, the production of lactic acid does not deplete or adversely effect oxygen levels. Although lactic acid can be caused by low oxygen levels, usually during exercise there is plenty of oxygen in the muscle so it will not become fatigued.
Lactic Acid Dispersal
Another common misconception is that lactic acid remains in the muscle for several hours or even days, and causes soreness in the muscle tissue. This is not the case. Lactic acid disperses within 25 to 30 minutes after the exercise period and does not cause any discomfort. Soreness usually occurs after two or three days and so cannot be connected to lactic acid production.
Lactic Acid Test
Because oxygen levels may drop as a result of illness or diseases, such as congestive heart failure, liver problems, hypoxia which is caused by shock, and lung disease, a test is available to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood. A blood sample is drawn from the back of the hand or inside of the elbow and is tested for lactic acid levels. A normal range is 4.5 to 19.8 mg/dL. An abnormally high result shows that the patient is suffering from oxygen deprivation.
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