Muscle fatigue is a common condition, especially for people who exercise regularly or have a job involving a lot of physical work. However, we don't always know how to treat muscle fatigue.
In this article, we'll tell you everything you need to know about muscle fatigue, its causes, symptoms and the best treatments to combat it.
What is muscle fatigue?
Muscle fatigue is, in its most basic concept, the reduction in strength of your muscles. There are also two types of muscle fatigue : neural fatigue and metabolic fatigue.
Neuronal or central fatigue is fatigue that occurs in the nervous system and is associated with changes in neurotransmitters, where dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine are reduced, thus diminishing muscle strength and performance in athletes.
Metabolic fatigue occurs when physical activity is so intense that the rate of adenosine triphosphate replenishment is not fast enough, resulting in fatigue and muscle weakness.
What causes muscle fatigue?
As we've already established, muscle fatigue is fairly common. Indeed, there are an infinite number of reasons why it can occur, but the two most common are aging and excessive physical activity.
So the question of what causes muscle fatigue is very broad, as it can be a symptom of other illnesses or situations. These include:
- Arthritis
- Obesity
- Anaerobic infections
- Anemia
- Anxiety and depression
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Chemotherapy
- Fibromyalgia
- Cold
- Pregnancy
- Lack of sleep
Symptoms of muscle fatigue
The main sign is muscle weakness, but there are several symptoms of muscle fatigue that you should be aware of.
Depending on the cause of your muscular exhaustion, you may experience muscle fatigue and pain, swelling, muscle contractions, difficulty gripping and holding objects, muscle cramps and difficulty breathing properly.
These are the symptoms of muscle fatigue, but it should be pointed out that muscle fatigue may itself be a symptom of another illness.
How to diagnose muscle fatigue
If you have identified one or more symptoms of muscle fatigue, particularly muscular tiredness and weakness, you should consult your doctor about the cause and appropriate treatment.
Your doctor will probably check your muscles, ask you to perform certain movements and make sure your reflexes are behaving correctly. He or she will also ask you about your activity level, symptoms and medical history.
In general, these data are more than sufficient to establish a diagnosis and proceed with treatment. However, a CT scan or MRI may be requested, as well as more routine tests such as blood tests.
Treatments for muscle fatigue
Before highlighting possible treatments for muscle fatigue, it's worth noting that these will largely depend on the cause of your muscle exhaustion. However, these are the most common from physiotherapy and Western medicine.
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapy is an excellent way to treat muscle fatigue and weakness . It usually focuses on exercises to strengthen your limbs, but it's often more basic than physical therapy and focuses on coordination, which is why it's also a popular treatment option for neurological disorders. You can also be given exercises to do at home to improve your strength and motor skills.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy also focuses on strengthening exercises for muscle fatigue and soreness, but these tend to be more progressive and are a common treatment when muscle fatigue stems from a lack of muscle utilization. Your physical therapy program will depend on your specific ailments and weaknesses.
Therapeutic massages
Therapeutic massages are useful for reducing muscular pain and relaxing your limbs so they regain their strength. They are nothing more than the manipulation of soft tissue by the therapist's experienced hands.
It will also help improve your flexibility, which is a great option if you're an athlete.
Kinesiology sessions
Kinesiology is the study of human movement, which is why it is a common treatment option for fatigue and muscular pain. It is also developed through specific exercises according to the age and needs of each patient.
Note that you can even use kinesiology as a preventive measure, i.e. to avoid muscle fatigue and continue your physical activities without any problems.
It can help increase muscle strength, which is ideal for fatigue and muscle weakness. Improve flexibility or recover from injury.
Changes in diet
Another common tip for this problem is to modify your diet. The best solution is to increase your intake of electrolytes and calcium. Electrolyte-rich foods include spinach, avocados, broccoli, potatoes, almonds, soybeans, strawberries, watermelon, bananas, milk, tomatoes, etc.
When it comes to calcium, cheese, yoghurt, various types of fish, beans, lentils, tofu, edamame and figs are among the foods that contain the most.
Medicines
Finally, it is common for some doctors to prescribe medication to combat fatigue and muscle pain, alongsideother treatments such as those mentioned above.
These are usually analgesics such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen.
Finally, if you've decided to visit a physiotherapy clinic in the Canadian region, we recommend Clinique Physiobalance, as it is certified by the prestigious Ordre Professionnel de la Physiothérapie du Québec.
