Final answer:
Muscles recover post-exercise as the body replenishes ATP and creatine phosphate and clears lactic acid built up during exertion. Damaged muscles lack the ability to contract effectively due to disrupted energy supply and structural damage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Your muscles would probably recover enough after 10 minutes to operate at the original efficiency because muscle recovery involves restoring the energy sources such as ATP and creatine phosphate, which get depleted during exertion. Creatine phosphate can supply energy quickly, allowing muscles to contract vigorously for up to 10 seconds.
After this, glycolysis provides energy by breaking down glycogen into glucose, which then forms ATP. This process, however, produces lactic acid as a by-product, leading to the 'stitch' associated with exercise fatigue and soreness. Once you rest, your body clears the lactic acid, replenishes ATP and creatine phosphate stores, and increases oxygen supply, facilitating recovery. If muscles are damaged, they can't produce the same amount of power due to disrupted energy pathways and potential structural damage to muscle fibers. This impairs their ability to contract effectively and produce force.