Trembling muscles during and after exercise? We explain why it happens!

You've probably felt this before. You're really going for it in the gym, but suddenly you get trembling muscles, both at the gym and after exercising. You might wonder if something is wrong with your body. Don't worry, it's a completely normal phenomenon. So why do you get these muscle tremors? We're happy to tell you all about it!

Why do I get trembling muscles while exercising?

If your muscles tremble during training, it's often simply because you're asking a lot of your body. Your body has to go past a limit and feels slightly too much strain. That's why it's important to rest between exercises, so your body can regain control over your muscles. You can also get trembling muscles after exercising. When you rest, you feel your arm muscles, glutes or abs trembling after your workout. This is often caused by excessive acid build-up during your training.

Trembling muscles after exercising

You've probably experienced it plenty of times. You're busy with your reps, and on that very last rep you simply don't have the strength to finish it. Then acid builds up in your muscles. This is caused by lactic acid, a waste product that is produced when your body burns carbs. It makes your muscles stiff, which means they can start to tremble. Your body does everything it can to get rid of this acid. Sometimes it isn't necessarily down to acid build-up in your body, but to your diet. If your body has a shortage of minerals, this can also cause throbbing muscles.

What can you do about trembling muscles?

Here are 4 tips to help prevent trembling muscles during and after a workout:

Do a warm-up

To prevent trembling muscles, it helps to prepare yourself for the exercises you're about to do. Do a short warm-up before you start, because good blood flow is important to get your muscles ready for what's coming. This way they get the energy and strength they need.

Do a cool-down

After a good training session, it's good for you to do a cool-down. Do some short stretching to put your muscles under good tension. Stretching your muscles promotes blood flow. This helps prevent your muscles from trembling.

Have a snack

You often sweat a lot while exercising, and that can cause a shortage of salt and minerals. With a snack, you can make up for that shortage. You can also have a snack that is rich in carbs. That way you can top up your energy level and your muscles can recover faster.

Keep hydrating

Of course you lose a lot of fluid when you exercise, so it's very important to keep drinking. Staying hydrated before and during exercise matters. This way you can get the best out of your body and reduce the chance of trembling muscles.

So have you experienced trembling muscles and wondered why it happens and what you can do about it? Now you have your answer! Do a short warm-up, have snacks during your training, keep hydrating and always do a cool-down afterwards.