John recently joined a gym program seeking a change from his

John recently joined a gym program seeking a change from his regular routine. He worked out for several years 2-3x a week working on both strength and cardiovascular endurance. On this particular morning at his new gym, the work out consisted of 100 push up, 200 pull ups, 300 crunches, and a 4 mile run to finish it off. After the workout, he felt extremely fatigued and like his arms and legs were Jell-O.   A few hours later the fatigue and muscle pain was so intense he couldn’t get up off the couch. Concerned family took him to the hospital.

1)What is the likely culprit of John’s pain?

2)What factors from the scenario lead you to this conclusion?

3)What is occurring physiologically from the illness?

4)How could this have been prevented?

Solution

1. The likely culprit is the lack of oxygen and hence instead of the usual glycolysis pathway being followed lactic acid was formed and hence he could not overcome the pain.

2. The sudden increase in his routine states that he has not been physically fit though he has be regularly working out it has not been as strenous as his recent routine that he performed and his lack of oxygen supply would prove is overdoing.

3. The phsiological condition that is repeatedly affecting him is the signs of fatigue and muscle pain which clearly indicate that he is in desperate need of oxygen supply.

4. The best way would have been a gradual increase in the routine and maybe even a daily visit to the gym just to make sure that he can perform the said routine in a single day.