Question

4. Abhinav was participating in marathon and was running at the position of two. When he was about to win the marathon he got severe muscle cramp which prevented him to run further.
a) Which process provides most of the energy during marathon?
b) Which process provides a little extra energy to Abhinav for running very fast?
c) Which substance got accumulated leading to muscle cramp?
d) What advice would you give so as to get relief from this cramp?

Answer 1

Please find answer to the sections below; 

(a) The most energy provided to Abhinav for running the marathon comes from aerobic respiration. 

(b) A little extra energy to Abhinav for running very fast comes from anaerobic respiration. 

(c) Lactic acid gets accumulated in the leg muscle which caused the cramp to occur. 

(d) Lactic acid gets accumulated in the leg muscle because he is running fast which uses up the oxygen quickly which causes anaerobic respiration to occur. 

(e) A hot water bath and massage would help Abhinav. His muscles would relax by the hot water bath and the massage would ease the pain. 

Answer 2

Muscle cramp is a normal problem during running which happens due to repeated or extended loading of any muscle/muscle group.

Cramps cannot be treated while running but, afterward, there are several ways to get relief from the cramps.

Some of the ways are passive stretching and massage, active contraction of muscle groups, icing etc.

It can be prevented by exercise.