Lactic Acid and soreness

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 3:35pm — Santiago Gonzalez

got this from another forum, I've read here and there that lactic acid was not a cause of muscle soreness like we are traditionally taught, I remember Chad Touchberry(remember him?) writing on that several times...so anyway here is the post what do you guys think about this reasoning?

"""Lactic acid is hydrogen-lactate.

The lactate is recycled as fuel, but the hydrogen ion is not.

So lactic acid accumulation means hydrogen ion accumulation. Those accumulating hydrogen ions shift muscle pH and interfere with cross-bridging and therefore muscle contraction.

Hence, "lactic acid" causes muscle fatigue, but if you want to be picky, it's the hydrogen ion that does the acidifying, just as with any other acid.

If it weren't for the hydrogen ion then lactic acid would just be lactate.

If you take the hydrogen ion away from sulfuric acid, it's just sulfate.

If you take the hydrogen ion away from acetic acid, it's just acetate.

And so on, and so on...

The hydrogen ion is the "acidic" component to any acid except some forms of organic acids.

The whole discussion about "whether it's the lactic acid or the hydrogen ions" is redundant. It's like saying, "is it the sulfuric acid that causes acid rain or is it the hydrogen ions?"

Also, "lactic acid" is a concept that people understand. "Hydrogen ions", they might not.

""""

Training and Nutrition

Thu, 01/22/2009 - 5:29pm — MattB

I'm confused...what does he

I'm confused...what does he mean the "Hydrogen ion is not recycled". Then what happens to the Hydrogen ion? Does it become H2O? If it simply accumulates and isn't recycled wouldn't the muscle Ph simply continue to become more acidic indefinitely?

Cori Cycle: Lactic acid leaves muscle (decreasing muscles acidity, back to normal over time)...goes to liver to be converted back to Glucose.

And what does the post have to do with muscle soreness? I didn't read anything that said lactic acid causes muscle soreness. I believe the agreed upon reason for muscle soreness is fiber damage mainly due to eccentric contractions. An acidic (Hydrogen rich) environment may play a very minor role...but not enough to worry about it.

Maybe I'm missing something here...

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 3:42pm — Santiago Gonzalez

ok

well the thing is most everyone tells you that muscle soreness is from lactic acid build up

so I'm reading a couple of things like what you said about fiber damage and what he says about the hydrogen ion etc...

that are basically saying lactic acid is not the cause of the soreness

just trying to understand what is happening better

really kind of lost as to all the different opinions about it

I guess I want and explanation so when someone says I'm sore because of all the lactic acid build up I can try and explain that they are right or that they are not and what actually causes it is .....

Santiago

Mon, 01/26/2009 - 2:35pm — MattB