Close Banner Routines Is It A Good Sign If Your Muscles Shake During A Workout? A Trainer Weighs In Author: Megan Falk March 04, 2026 By Megan Falk mbg Contributor Megan Falk is an experienced health and wellness journalist. Megan is a graduate of Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications with a bachelor's degree in Magazine Journalism and a minor in Food Studies. She's also a certified personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise. Image by Artem Varnitsin / EyeEm / Getty March 04, 2026 We carefully vet all products and services featured on mindbodygreen using our commerce guidelines. Our selections are never influenced by the commissions earned from our links. As you're lowering down into the final squat of your strength training session or completing one last roll-up during Pilates, your working muscles might begin to quiver uncontrollably. To help you get the most out of your workout, your lifting partner or instructor may encourage you to push through those tremors. But is that a good idea? Here, a personal trainer breaks down why you're trembling throughout your training session and whether these shakes are actually a sign of a job well done. Why your muscles shake during exercise A few things can cause your muscles to quiver, says Jill Goodtree , a NASM-certified personal trainer and Rumble Boxing instructor. First, this may simply mean your muscles are fatigued and nearing their breaking point at the end of your workout. "When your body creates shakes, it can be your muscles saying, 'I'm tired! I need help! I'm going to recruit more muscle fibers to help me,'" she notes.  Shaking can also occur when you're learning a new movement. If you've never performed a pull-up (learn how to do one here ), for instance, your first few reps may be unsteady until your body acclimates to the exercise, says Goodtree.  More seriously, trembling muscles can also be caused by dehydration, says Goodtree. Dehydration, which occurs when you're not replacing the fluids you're losing via sweat during physical activity, can affect your attention and cognitive performance 1 and also reduce the efficacy of your workout, according to the American College of Sports Medicine . Plus, research suggests that cell dehydration may impair muscle contractile capacity 2 (read: muscle cells' ability to forcefully contract). So, is shaking muscles a good sign? As you're lowering down into the final squat of your strength training session or completing one last roll-up during Pilates, your working muscles might begin to quiver uncontrollably. To help you get the most out of your workout, your lifting partner or instructor may encourage you to push through those tremors. But is that a good idea? Here, a personal trainer breaks down why you're trembling throughout your training session and whether these shakes are actually a sign of a job well done.  Quivering caused by dehydration, however, isn't something you should push through. "If you're shaking due to dehydration, stop exercising, consume water or an electrolyte beverage, and seek medical help if necessary," says Goodtree. If you're feeling tired, lightheaded, dizzy, or thirsty, or you have dry skin and lips, muscle cramps, or a headache— common signs 3 of dehydration—that's your cue to pause your workout and replenish any lost fluid. Although shaking during your workouts isn't always a red flag, you shouldn't necessarily strive to quiver, either. "As a fitness professional and personal trainer, I don't think 'get my muscles to shake' is an effective goal," says Goodtree. Instead, set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) goals for your fitness program, she suggests. A person who can't yet do a full pushup, for example, might set a goal to complete 10 pushups on their toes within two months. "To get there, you might work on your chest press, chest fly, planks, and shoulder mobility," she recommends. "You also might experience muscle shaking along the way!" How to keep your muscles and joints healthy beauty & gut collagen+ Our collagen gets you glowing, inside and out.* ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (312) Shop now Shop now Resistance training—an activity that might make your body tremble—plays a key role in keeping your muscles and joints healthy, particularly as you get older. Muscle mass and strength typically begin to decline after age 35, but making strides to maintain them can help support 4 your daily functioning and independence and reduce your risk of injury. Along with lifting weights and performing bodyweight exercises, you can support your muscle and joint health by engaging in other types of physical activity, such as swimming, playing tennis, or dancing. What matters most, says Goodtree, is choosing a movement practice you enjoy.  Nutrition is equally important. Remember to stay hydrated before, during, and after your workout, suggests Goodtree. You may also consider taking a collagen suppleme