Side Effects of Exercise That Might Not Be Normal
By Sara Butler
During a hard workout, you expect to do a little sweating, get out of breath, and have your heart pick up its pace. Maybe you even expect to be a little sore the next day. Sometimes your body goes a little further than you anticipate. You may feel dizzy, shaky, or have a symptom that just doesn’t seem right. Should you worry or is it par for the course when working out? Here are some of the most common side effects of exercise that may make you scratch your head, and when to take them seriously.
Shoulder Clicks
You may be having a great swim or killing it on the basketball court when you begin to notice a popping or clicking sound coming from your shoulder. Should this alarm you? The answer is probably not.
As you age, so do your joints. And the wear and tear life brings your way can cause some unexpected things to happen -- such as clicking or popping in your joints. It’s normal to hear these sounds emanating from your joints as long as they aren’t accompanied by pain. If it’s painful, then you need to get evaluated by a medical profession such as the chiropractor.
Crunching Knees
The breakdown of cartilage in your knees can cause some crunching during squats or lunges at the gym. It can start early in life or late, but as long as it’s not painful, then it’s nothing you should worry too much about. Just understand that doing certain activities, such as deep squats, can accelerate the breakdown process and lead to damage down the road. If it is painful or your knee locks up and you can’t move it correctly, then seek medical help.
Shaky Muscles
During or after a workout you may notice shaky muscles. What causes them? Well, it depends on when you experience them.
Shaky muscles after a workout are likely due to your blood sugar running low since your body isn’t used to using its stored glycogen to power the muscles. If your muscles shake during a workout, then it might be because of fatigue as you’re using the muscle. Either way, it’s not dangerous.
The key to continued health is to recognize when what you're experiencing is normal or not. If you have questions, ask your chiropractor.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Durham, N.C.