Why do muscles get sore

[sanitarium]

Lets get back to the roots, lets go back to the basics

I played 3 matches in the past 2 days, now my shoulder/arm and lower back are a bit sore. Why do muscles when exercised feel sore?

I want a scientific explanation.

[BSousa]

If im not mistaken is because of the lactic acid produced during exercise (needed) that remains there after exercise. Passive stretching after exercise while still warm helps reduce this. Do note that most back and shoulder paisn don't originate on the muscles but on some other problem (bones, tendons, protective menbranes (specially on back and chest).

Do a search in google for "Lactic acid muscle soreness" and you should get some ph.d's explanations...

[Rickson]

Originally Posted by BSousa

If im not mistaken is because of the lactic acid produced during exercise (needed) that remains there after exercise. Passive stretching after exercise while still warm helps reduce this. Do note that most back and shoulder paisn don't originate on the muscles but on some other problem (bones, tendons, protective menbranes (specially on back and chest).

Do a search in google for "Lactic acid muscle soreness" and you should get some ph.d's explanations...

I'm afraid you are mistaken. Lactic acid makes your muscles burn during exercise, but delayed muscle soreness comes from tiny tears in the muscles that occur during intense anaerobic exercise. The soreness goes away when the muscle has repaired itself.

[BSousa]

Well, when I'm wrong I'm wrong

I was actually always told this by coaches, but then again, most coaches use popular science for explaining things....

Sorry!

[bigserving]

It is my understanding that physical activity can actually damage muscle tissue. The soreness is the result of thousands tens of thousands of tiny muscles tears.

That is about as scientific that I can get. It seems to make sense to me because I will get sore if I haven't played in a while, or if I play a tourney and am "forced" to play a lot in a short period of time.