Six Lies You Were Taught About Lactic Acid
- By Matt Fitzgerald
- Published Dec. 4, 2012
- Updated Dec. 4, 2012 at 10:28 AM UTC
Lie #3: Lactic Acid Causes Soreness
Lactate does not cause post-exercise muscle soreness. The simplest proof of this is the fact that very little lactate is produced during highly prolonged, low-intensity exercise, and yet it is this very type of exercise that leaves the muscles sorest in the following days. Post-exercise muscle soreness is actually caused by simple mechanical damage to muscle fibers, free radical damage, and inflammation.
FILED UNDER: Training TAGS: Lactate / Lactic Acid / muscle fatigue / muscle soreness