Category Archives for Muscles
What Causes a Muscle Cramp?
Definition
When we use the muscles that can voluntarily be controlled, such as those of our arms and legs, they alternately contract and relax as we move our limbs. Muscles that support our head, neck, and trunk contract similarly in a synchronized fashion to maintain our posture. A muscle (or even a few fibers of a muscle) that involuntarily (without consciously willing it) contracts is called a spasm. If the spasm is forceful and sustained, it becomes a cramp. A muscle cramp is thus defined as...
What Causes a Leg Cramp?
Definition
Cramps are unpleasant, often painful sensations caused by contraction or over-shortening of muscles. Leg cramps are painful feeling of tightness and tension in the muscles of the legs. Also known as ‘charley horse’, leg cramps usually occur when the leg muscles suddenly and forcefully contract. There are three prime areas where these cramps mainly occur: calf (crossing the ankle and knee), the hamstring (crossing the knee and hip) and the quadriceps (also crossing the knee...
Hand Pain
Pain is very common in the hand because it is one of the most used parts of the body. For dexterity and movement, there are different types of muscles, bones and ligaments that can be found in the hand. Whenever pain occurs, most physicians agree that there are problems with the sheaths, ligaments and muscles located in the hand. To ease the ache, patients should consult with their physicians so that medical experts can help them identify the cause of hand pain. If they cannot see their physicians...
Calf Pain
Made up of the Soleus muscle and the Gastrocnemius, the calf muscle can experience chronic and severe pain due to many possible causes and factors. It is very important to keep this body part healthy because people use it in performing different kinds of tasks, ranging from the most basic things like standing, walking and bending even up to the most complex tasks such as competing in sports and other strenuous physical activities. To help manage calf pain, people must learn more about its symptoms,...
Flank Pain
Flank pain is a medical condition that is characterized by mild to severe aching in the part of the body situated between the back and the upper abdomen. This condition is commonly associated with problems in the kidney. To know the other factors that contribute to the etiology of the pain, it is important that patients learn the different symptoms of this health condition. At the onset of any symptom, patients are highly advised to visit their physicians to determine the real cause of the problem....
Upper Arm Pain
Upper arm pain is closely associated with strenuous activities involving the upper arm, or bicep. Usually, this happens after a day of using the upper arm repetitively or stretching the capabilities beyond what it is used to. People normally experience upper arm pain after exercising that involved moving the arms such as weight-lifting, push-ups and chin-ups.
Causes
Upper arm pain causes are normally muscle strains, fractures, tendonitis and injury. Normally, upper arm pain causes are because of...
Fibromyalgia Symptoms
This health condition often affects women, but it has also been observed among men and children. The symptoms are numerous and need to be assessed before any treatment can be given.
Fibromyalgia Signs
The major symptoms include muscle pain in different parts of the body. This is accompanied by aching joints and tenderness of some muscles. Another common indication is that the aches move from one body part to another. Much of the pain though, is focused on the neck area.
Among other patients the...
Achilles Tendon Pain
Having an inflamed Achilles tendon can be very painful experience, which is a condition usually referred to as Achilles tendinitis. When affected by this, patients experience sharp and stabbing pain somewhere in the upper, lower, right and left parts of the heel area. In many cases, recreational athletes easily succumb to this severe type of condition, mainly because of overuse as well as constant exposure to strenuous activities. Here is a quick look at the symptoms, diagnosis, causes and treatments...
