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Do you experience muscle tremors when lifting weights in the gym? Today we show you all the causes of these episodes.
Weight training involves a muscular effort that you are rarely aware of. The hidden mechanisms behind muscle hypertrophy and increased strength are not always understood by athletes. Today we reveal why the body shakes when trying to lift more weight.
Contrary to what you think, tremors of this type are very common. Most of them we can classify as normal and they are due to physiological processes related to the training itself. The causes are diverse, although we have summarized the main ones in one place so that you avoid concerns about your health.
Muscular fatigue
Muscle fatigue is the main reason why the body shakes when lifting more weights. This is why most episodes are reported at the end of training., or in any case during the last series or repetitions of an exercise.
The researchers they are still not entirely sure what the complete mechanism is that interferes during the process. The main cause is believed to be disruption of the motor neuronal connection. That is, the communication between neurons that allows all your muscle groups to contract.
As a consequence, you present a decrease in muscle response, loss of strength and weakness. At the same time, and according to several studies, you can develop balance disturbances and reduced motor control. Muscle tremors when lifting more weight can also be a common sequel to this fatigue.
Muscle fatigue is a sign that you have reached the limit of your capacity. Some use it as an indicator of all their workouts; others only aspire to reach it in specific sessions. The accumulation of lactic acid and the consumption of glycogen stores also has a lot to do with the process.
Absence of minerals
Glycogen is not the only element that the body uses when doing physical activity. Large amounts of sodium, potassium, and calcium are consumed during a workout routine at the gym. You also lose these micronutrients through sweat and urine..
The reserve of these minerals is different in each athlete. If your sessions are particularly long (more than an hour), it is likely that you are approaching the minimum required by the body to function without problems. At this point you may experience that the body shakes when lifting more weight or you will suffer cramps.
It is for this reason that athletes are used to ingesting sports drinks during their longest workouts. Drinks of this type are also used regularly in disciplines such as football, cycling or long-distance running. Through them the lost nutrients are replaced to avoid the indicated episodes.
Lack of training
Another possible cause of the body shaking when lifting more weight is found in the physical conditioning itself. If you are sitting up after an injury or a very long period without training, then it is normal that your muscles do not respond as you were used to.
Lack of training can reduce your strength, power, and even coordination in a matter of weeks. If when you return to the gym you intend to lift the same weight as when you left it, it is natural that you will face several obstacles.
This also applies to those trying to lift more weight than their body can handle. Your progress should always be in line with your capabilities, strength and endurance.. By including unrealistic goals, you not only expose yourself to injury, but these kinds of unpleasant episodes as well.
Not stretching or heating properly
Stretching and warming up the muscle is essential before and after any training routine. The research certify its importance to improve the performance of the session and avoid injuries, although there will always be those who do without it during their routine.
During your training you should spend at least 10 minutes stretching all muscle groups. Not just those involved during the execution.
You should also do stretches between sets, which encourage oxygenation and help release tension. If the body shakes when lifting weights, it’s likely due to not stretching enough.
Other causes that explain why the body shakes when lifting weights
The four causes above are the most common when experiencing episodes like these. They are not, however, the only ones. Other reasons that we cannot fail to point out are the following:
- Lack of sleep: If you have a personal trainer, you must have emphasized the importance of a night’s rest. If you don’t get enough sleep, your muscles won’t recover and you won’t be able to perform during the next workouts.
- Overtraining: the researchers they call it overtraining syndrome and is characterized by fatigue and poor performance. If you continue with the sessions despite this, you will experience muscle tremors when lifting more weight.
- Dehydration: Do you always accompany your routines with plenty of fluids? If the answer is no, then it may be part of the problem.
- Bad nutrition: As we have already indicated, nutrient stores vary between athletes. Those who have a balanced diet do not deplete the reserves before.
- Injuries: Muscle injuries, such as tears, can cause tremors, spasms, or pain when executing a movement. Make sure you’ve met recovery times before lifting a barbell again.
If your body shakes when lifting weights, take some steps
Based on what we have told you, you can deduce what to do and what not to do from now on to avoid muscle tremors when lifting weights. Improving your diet, drinking plenty of fluids, respecting rest times, planning realistic goals and stretching properly are among your priorities.
If despite taking this into account you continue to present the episodes, turn to a specialist to rule out any type of neuromuscular condition. Do this if the charts are present away from workouts, are persistent, and extend for more than a few minutes.
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