How do I prevent pulled muscle cramps after workouts?!


Question: I don't go to the gym much but when I do, I use the weights and stuff after my cardio.

I went gung-ho on the weights and woke up this morning with some mild pain in my right arm and chest (worked with the chest muscle machine a lot yesterday).

How do I prevent these cramps from happening again? Are there any stretching exercises for the upper body as well as the lower body that can prevent cramping? Or do I need to lower the weights and the reps?


Answers: I don't go to the gym much but when I do, I use the weights and stuff after my cardio.

I went gung-ho on the weights and woke up this morning with some mild pain in my right arm and chest (worked with the chest muscle machine a lot yesterday).

How do I prevent these cramps from happening again? Are there any stretching exercises for the upper body as well as the lower body that can prevent cramping? Or do I need to lower the weights and the reps?

the soreness is caused by two reasons you overworked yourself before you were ready and lactic acid build up in you muscles. You can help that lactic acid build up by making sure that you are drinking plenty of water and as for overworking you muscles you can 1 of 2 things decrease the amount of weight you are doing but keep the reps and sets the same or leave the weight the same and decrease the number of reps and sets.

Before any workouts, you should always do stretching exercises. There are many books on working out with weights that will guide you to the proper stretches.

since you dont do it soo often do work out as w\much do a little at a time or go do it more often simple

Are they cramps or are your muscles and ligaments sore? When you start going to the gym after a long hiatus you need to start back slowly without demanding too much of your self... Over a few week period gradually ramp it up until you're putting everything you've got into it. If you haven't been to the gym before your muscles and ligaments need to gradually become stronger and used to the motions before you subject them to the operating at 100% of capacity.

If they really are cramps you're getting those can be prevented with calcium supplements.

Stretching before will always help, but the pulled muscle feeling will always somewhat be there. Thats how you build muscle in the first place - your muscles tear minute amounts and then rebuild with more mass. Think of it as your muscles in repair and downtime, and just be careful not to overwork them in that downtime.

If you are going to a gym ask an instructor how to do stretching for your upper body and how many reps you should do. You need to stretch before and after any workout. Try going to the gym every other day and mix up your cardio with weight lifting, but do NOT overdo the weight lifting untill your muscles adjust, this will help prevent cramps and soreness.
Best of Luck





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