Blood pH sits in an incredibly narrow range, 7.35 to 7.45, no matter how hard you train or what you eat. Here’s what actually holds it there, why the muscle “burn” isn’t lactic acid, and what happens when the buffers get overwhelmed. Every breath you take, every step you run, and every meal you digest…
Understand how the body maintains pH balance, what happens during exercise-induced acidosis, and how acid-base physiology relates to physical therapy and rehabilitation. The human body is remarkably sensitive to changes in its internal chemical environment. Among the most tightly regulated variables is pH — the measure of acidity or alkalinity of body fluids. A shift…
Learn what enzymes are, how they accelerate biological reactions, and how enzyme activity relates to muscle injury, inflammation, and physical therapy recovery. Without enzymes, life as we know it would be impossible. The chemical reactions required to sustain life — from digesting food to building muscle proteins to generating energy for movement — would occur…
Learn why water is the most essential molecule in the human body, how dehydration affects muscles and joints, and why hydration is critical in physical therapy. It is one of the most abundant molecules on Earth and the most essential for human life. Water makes up approximately 60% of adult body weight — around 42…
Explore the many roles of lipids in the human body — from cell membrane structure to inflammation regulation — and how fat metabolism supports physical therapy recovery. For decades, fat had a bad reputation. Dietary fat was blamed for obesity, heart disease, and numerous other health problems. But as our understanding of biochemistry has deepened,…
Discover how carbohydrates fuel muscles during exercise and physical therapy, why glycogen matters for recovery, and how carbohydrate intake influences rehabilitation outcomes. Carbohydrates have a complicated reputation. Popular diets often demonize them, while sports scientists recognize them as the preferred fuel for high-intensity exercise. In the context of physical therapy and rehabilitation, the truth about…
Learn how proteins are structured, what they do in the body, and why adequate protein intake is essential for muscle recovery and tissue healing in physical therapy. Of all the biological molecules in the human body, proteins are the most diverse and functionally versatile. They build muscle fibers, form collagen in tendons and ligaments, transmit…