Lactic acid forms in your muscles and red blood cells when your body breaks down carbohydrates to use as fuel. This process occurs when you are low on oxygen, particularly during intense exercise; intense anaerobic exercise, like weight training, is especially likely to produce lactic acid in your muscles.
Lactic Acid
Your body usually gets its energy from oxygen, but when you are exercising particularly hard, your oxygen stores become low and your body needs to find another fuel source. This comes in the form of a carbohydrate called glucose; as it is broken down into energy, lactic acid is produced in the muscles. This substance acts as a protective mechanism by reducing your muscles' performance so you are essentially forced to slow down and recover enough to rebuild your oxygen stores.
Weight Training and Lactic Acid
Pumping your muscles during an intense weight-lifting session is one way to practically guarantee lactic acid buildup, because it is most commonly produced during anaerobic exercise -- that is, exercise that doesn't rely on oxygen for energy. Lactic acid is a natural byproduct of exercise, but to reduce your levels after a workout, studies show that light exercise -- between 35 and 45 per cent of your maximum -- or a massage are particularly effective in reducing lactic acid build up, notes the Simply Fit website.
Effects
Lactic acid is commonly believed to cause muscle soreness after you exercise, but according to "Scientific American," this is not the case. It does, however, cause the burning feeling you may get in your muscles during a hard workout. Lactic acid is your body's way of forcing you to slow down and restore your oxygen levels.
Testing for Lactic Acid
Abnormally high levels of lactic acid in your blood are a sign that your cells and tissues are not getting enough oxygen, causing a condition known as lactic acidosis, says MedlinePlus. A blood test can diagnose this condition. Normal levels of lactic acid are 4.5 to 19.8 mg per deciliter of blood.
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