If you have tremors or spasms after running, you could be suffering from muscle fatigue or low blood sugar levels. Both conditions can indicate danger or even an emergency situation. Muscle spasms are a sign of muscle fatigue, while trembling hands and limbs can indicate that your body is out of fuel (sugar) and in a hypoglycemic state.
Tremors from muscle fatigue
To build muscle mass, bodybuilders exercise to the point of muscle fatigue; the point where proper technique can no longer be sustained during required movements. Running can also fatigue muscles similar to resistance training. When your muscles tremble or contract from fatigue after running, it can be a sign that you are trying too hard and you risk injuring your muscles, tendons, or ligaments.
Causes of muscle fatigue
If your muscles tire quickly while running, it may be exaggerating your exercise program. Skeletal muscles are made up of cell groups connected to the spinal cord by motor nerves. The cell groups contract together, with groups that tire at different speeds during sustained exercise, such as running a long distance. When some of the muscle cell groups stop working, tremor, spasm, or jerking movements occur. A rest period allows muscle cell groups to return to normal.
Hypoglycemic tremors
Hypoglycemia, low blood sugar, is more likely to occur in people with diabetes, but it can occur in non-diabetic people. One of the first symptoms of hypoglycemia is tremor, along with hunger, sweating, and changes in skin color . The condition occurs when blood sugar levels are low and your body’s signaling process, which results in the release of glycogen from the liver, is not working properly. Instead, your body releases adrenaline, which is normally released by the body when it is in danger. Adrenaline responses cause muscle tremors, rapid heart rate, dilated pupils, and other physiological reactions to danger.
How are gluclosa reserves depleted?
Glucose fuels your body, from the brain to the toes. Your vital organs, like the brain, get glucose from the bloodstream. But your muscles are excluded from the use of glucose from your blood. Instead, your muscles have their own store of glucose in the form of glycogen. During exercise, muscles burn glycogen, converting to body fat, a less efficient form of energy, if you deplete your glycogen stores.
Why do you have spasms after running?
A leg spasm, often called a cramp, is the result of a sudden, often painful, contraction of the muscles. Many athletes, particularly runners, have experienced this phenomenon. Although the exact cause of leg spasms is unknown, taking certain preventive measures before and during the race can prevent it from occurring. If your legs continue to spasm after running, even if you are taking the proper preventive measures, see a doctor.
Although experts have been unable to find the exact cause, several factors have been identified that contribute to muscle spasms after running. Dehydration and muscle fatigue are the most common factors . Having low levels of electrolytes, including potassium, calcium, sodium, and magnesium, affects how the muscles contract and can cause spasms after the race. In some cases, the nerve that controls the leg muscles becomes irritated, causing pain and spasms.
Can they be avoided?
Spasms caused by fatigue can be prevented by stretching the leg muscles to increase flexibility . Warm up your muscles before stretching to avoid tensing them as you stretch. A warm-up can include several minutes of jogging on the spot or calisthenics exercises. Control your pace and avoid running to the point where you feel drained or your muscles ache. To avoid low electrolyte levels and dehydration, start hydrating yourself the day before running . If you are going to run long-term, take small sips of water during your run. Drink water or an electrolyte-enriched sports drink after exercise, especially if you’ve been sweating a lot. Avoid running in too hot to avoid excessive sweating, which can lead to dehydration and low electrolytes.
Is there any treatment?
When you feel a spasm after running, for whatever activity you are doing, stretch and massage your legs until it disappears. If your muscle is stiff, applying heat can help relax it and reduce spasm. However, sore muscles will benefit the most from applying an ice pack or bag of frozen vegetables. Wrap a towel around the ice pack to avoid damaging the skin. Taking an over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen, can help relieve any pain. Drink an electrolyte-enhanced drink to help with dehydration.
Muscle spasms in the leg that don’t go away with self-care measures may indicate a more serious problem. If the spasm does not subside after an hour, or if it is extremely painful, seek immediate medical attention. Spasms in the legs that occur repeatedly after running, despite taking preventive measures, may indicate an underlying medical disorder, such as mineral deficiency or nervous disorder.
