Why do muscles often ache?

Muscle fatigue is a condition in which muscles have a reduced ability to produce force, causing the patient to feel pain, stiffness or muscle weakness when exercising, even at rest. This phenomenon often appears when the muscle is overworked, lacks recovery time, or when the body has health problems that affect the supply of oxygen and energy to the muscle.

MSc. Nguyen Thi Phuong, Department of Musculoskeletal and Rheumatology, Tam Anh Cau Giay General Clinic, said muscle fatigue can cause a number of systemic symptoms such as shallow breathing, shortness of breath, slight tremors in the arms and legs, more obvious when working hard or overloaded. Fatigue, dizziness, especially when changing positions suddenly, and easily getting cramps at night are also symptoms that need attention.

Dr. Phuong points out some common causes of muscle fatigue.

Overwork or intense exercise Prolonged continuous use of muscles causes muscle fibers to easily be overloaded, accumulating metabolites in the muscles, causing a feeling of tightness and pain. The condition often occurs in people who are new to exercise or who suddenly increase exercise intensity.

Insufficient rest after heavy labor. Repetitive movements cause muscles to not have enough rest time to recover, over time causing muscle fatigue to easily recur and prolong. Insufficient sleep or poor sleep quality impairs the natural energy recovery and muscle tissue regeneration processes, often causing muscle fatigue when waking up in the morning.

Aging cause a natural decline in muscle mass and strength. Less muscle elasticity reduces the ability to withstand force and recover. The condition affects older adults, causing muscle fatigue even with daily activities.

Poor nutrition Imbalance, lack of necessary protein, vitamins and minerals can directly affect muscle activity. The body lacks energy and regenerative materials and will experience muscle fatigue, which is common in people who diet excessively or eat erratically.

Pregnant causes women to have hormonal changes and gain weight, increasing pressure on the musculoskeletal system. Muscles have to adapt to changing posture and body weight, so they get tired more easily, often affecting back, hip and leg muscles, especially in the last months of pregnancy.

Doctor Phuong said that when there are symptoms of prolonged muscle fatigue, patients should increase rest, supplement nutrition, get enough sleep, and exercise moderately. If symptoms do not improve, you should see a multi-specialty hospital to screen for causes such as musculoskeletal diseases, endocrine disorders, neurological diseases, poor circulation or infections that can cause prolonged muscle fatigue.