One of the most common misinterpretations is that lactates in blood, or lactic acid are responsible for muscle inflammation. However, many research show that the only negative effect connected to the accumulation of lactates (or more correctly, lactic acid) happens because of an increased concentration of hydrogen ions.
Muscle inflammation has nothing to do with the accumulated lactates, but is exclusively a by-product of an increased concentration of hydrogen ions that the organism is not able to remove via its buffer system (buffers – solutions that have a certain pH level in order to neutralize, i.e. offer resistance to a certain amount of acid).
Also, mechanical damages on the muscle that appear during intense activity (microtraumas, bleedings, and liquid intrusion into the Z plate muscle) add up to the feeling of muscle pain.
The highest concentration of lactates in blood is approx. 5 minutes after completing a physical activity. Lactate concentrations go back to their normal levels in under an hour since the physical activity has ended.
Mild activity after training helps with a quicker lactate drainage.
The Most Common Reasons Why Muscle Inflammation Occurs
The reasons why muscle inflammation occurs among sportsmen who train martial arts are varied. One of them is the planned and programmed training process that needs to be in function of one's health needs.
In order for it to be after the training phase in which the athlete is preparing for a competition, as well as after the competition itself, a phase of rest and relaxation, i.e. a phase of psychological and physical rest needs to take place.
Only after a bigger or smaller pause from a serious and more difficult training does the athlete need to continue with a new series of preparations for a competition.
One of the reasons why muscle inflammation occurs among athletes is a pause from training due to illness. This may happen because of a regular cold, some seasonal allergies, an inflammation (e.g. inflammation of the eye, ear, tooth) or some other illness after which one needs a longer recovery and has to take a break from training.
In martial arts, athletes can injure themselves during training (because of inattention, irregular use of equipment, insufficient warm up, etc.) as well as during a competition. No matter how successful an athlete may be during a competition, there is always a great chance that he/she may injure himself/herself.
Depending on the severity of the injury, the athlete will have to rest and rehabilitate according to his/her doctor's recommendation and will be able to return to training once he/she is feeling better. This is also one of the reasons why muscle inflammation may occur.
Muscle inflammation can also happen if a sportsman changes his/her mode of training or performance of certain exercises (i.e. once an MMA athlete after boxing exercises switches to practicing wrestling, judo, ju jitsu techniques etc.).