Muscle fatigue?

[SuntanLotion]

I have started working out recently. Today I used a Hip Adducter at 85 pounds. My legs are sore but not a problem. Today when I was walking I felt my foot drag a little but I lifted it, then I fell. Is this a common thing if you’ve worked out a bit more than usual?

[beowulff]

Why did you fall? Was it a balance issue or, were you unable to support your weight?

[SuntanLotion]

I may have dragged my foot, but I had lifted it before I fell.

[beowulff]

Working your muscles to exhaustion could cause this, but I think you would know it.

Arnold says:

I remember the first real workout I had as vividly as if it were last night. I rode my bike to the gym, which was eight miles from the village where I lived. I used barbells, dumbbells and machines. The guys warned me that I’d get sore, but it didn’t seem to be having any effect. I thought I must be beyond that.

Then, after the workout, I started riding home and fell off my bike. I was so weak I couldn’t make my hands hold on. I had no feeling in my legs: they were noodles. I was numb, my whole body buzzing. I pushed the bike for a while, leaning on it. Half a mile farther, I tried to ride it again, fell off again, and then just pushed it the rest of the way home. This was my first experience with weight training, and I was crazy for it.

[Riemann]

It may not be that your muscles are literally so tired that they can’t support you, but proprioception deteriorates with muscle fatigue, for obvious reasons - feedback sensation changes. The closer you are to the limit of what your muscle can do, the less fine control and coordination you have.

I think there’s also a specific issue with hip adductor/abductor machines. I remember being told to avoid them by my trainer - it’s easy to find articles recommending that you avoid these exercises, because the movements are unnatural.