During strenuous exercise, oxygen delivers energy to your muscles. As you continue to train, your body must work harder to deliver oxygen to your muscles. Your body breaks down carbohydrates for energy when oxygen levels decline, producing lactic acid as a byproduct. You might notice a burning sensation in the muscle group that you are training. This is your body's normal response to intense exercise. However, certain conditions can cause increased lactic acid.
Background
If you are training your legs strenuously, you have probably experienced the characteristic burning sensation of lactic acid. Some people experience a more intense burning sensation than others, since everyone's oxygen capacity varies. Although the sensation is uncomfortable, this is rarely a sign of something serious. A lactate test can measure the amount of lactic acid in your blood, to rule out an underlying condition.
Misconception
Some people experience soreness a day or two after strenuous exercise and mistakenly believe that they are experiencing excess lactic acid buildup. Contrary to this belief, lactic acid does not cause delayed onset muscle soreness, according to an article in the January 2006 issue of the magazine, "Scientific American." Lactic acid helps protect your muscles from damage during extreme exertion and is typically not a cause for concern.
Lactic Acidosis
Lactic acidosis occurs when lactic acid builds up in your bloodstream. If you are training your legs intensely, your body can produce lactic acid faster than it can be removed, causing a temporary buildup. This happens when you have reached your lactic acid threshold. Once you cease training, your body can recover and remove the lactic acid from your bloodstream. Underlying conditions such as kidney failure, cancer and heart problems can cause lactic acid to build up.
Considerations
Sometimes extreme burning sensations from lactic acid can be a sign that you are overtraining that particular muscle group. If you experience very intense burning in your legs, you might want to reduce your training intensity. See your doctor if you experience extreme burning sensations from light exercise; it could be a sign of an underlying condition. Anemia occurs when your body cannot produce enough red blood cells, which reduces your oxygen capacity. Your doctor can perform a blood test to rule out anemia or other conditions.
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