TMBRA - Rider Board

 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Lactate build-up

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    TMBRA - Rider Board Forum Index -> Ask the Bike Doc
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
dennibw
New


Joined: 31 May 2004
Posts: 69

PostPosted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 8:00 pm GMT +0000    Post subject: Lactate build-up Reply with quote

Hi Doc, I had my first professional foot & lower leg massage yesterday since my feet & lower legs have been killing me constantly for the last 8 days. While the girl was working on my calves she told me I had a lot of lactate build-up in my legs. I laughed & said I wasn't suprised since I cycle & being an ICU nurse, I'm on my feet 8-14 hours a day. I think it's most likely work related since I've been on lite exercise for the last 2 months. What can I do to help break this down? I drink water all day at work, watch my diet, & will soak in epsom salt baths. Is this just one of those things where I need to be patient & let nature do it's thing?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
The Bike Doc
250+


Joined: 08 May 2003
Posts: 1398
Location: Corpus Christi and Warda, Texas

PostPosted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:20 am GMT +0000    Post subject: Reply with quote

dennibw:

I suspect she was miss calling muscle knots (chronic local muscle spasms) as lactate build-up. Our muscles produce lactate with normal metabolism even with non-strenuous activity, however, it does not build up and is rapidly cleared. Lactate build up does occur during strenuous exercise/activity; the build up is due to the lactate not being cleared as rapidly as it produced. Go to http://www.velonews.com/train/articles/8217.0.html for a very nice write up by another "Bike Doc" on lactate build up.

As it is likely the massage therapist was feeling was chronic muscle knots or spasms, then the best therapy is muscle stretching exercises. Get the excellent book Stretching by Bob Anderson. I use to have chronic knots in my calves that developed when I went from high physical activity to lower physical activity. Even after I cranked my activity back up, the knots persisted. After I read Stretching I started a daily stretching routine, the knots resolved over a couple of weeks.

I hope this information helps.

Thanks,
_________________
Paul K. Nolan, MD
AKA: The Bike Doc
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    TMBRA - Rider Board Forum Index -> Ask the Bike Doc All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group