Muscular System Illnesses

The skeleton is predominately concerned with locomotion or movement which requires muscles and connective tissues such as ligaments to achieve this. The muscular system, while very strong can be very prone to stiffness, injury, and illness. Massage therapists understand this very well as their primary focus is to help relieve these conditions. For many, the muscular system will provide the foundation to our businesses.

Muscles are fascinating to observe because each one has intricately evolved to be perfect for its job. Some are long, others short, and each is given motility by its incredible structure. There are three types of muscles

Skeletal Muscle

– these attach to the skeleton and help to move limbs etc

Cardiac muscle

– causes the heart to beat regularly to pump blood around the body

Smooth muscle

– lines the internal organs such as the lungs

In this lesson we are predominantly concerned with skeletal muscle and its anatomy. These are “striated,” literally meaning “stripy” they are made up on and fibers laid over each other. These stretch and move over each other. When a muscle works it burns fuel but a byproduct of lactic acid is left behind. This acid crystallizes and we will often feel it as muscle stiffness or even grittiness. (Roll your head; often you can feel the crunch in your neck as you grind lactic acid crystals). Opening these fibers with massage breaks down the crystals and detoxifies the fibers.

Sprained ankle x-ray

Sprains or Strains

– Muscles are attached to joints by ligaments and tendons. These are very strong fibers but they do not have a huge amount of elasticity and so they can “tear” or strain very easily from falls and twists in particular. Many patients will report feeling or hearing a kind of “pop” when a ligament tears. Often these will happen as sports injuries, but they can also be “everyday injuries.” A sudden jerk can cause them, but just as likely ligaments may tear because they have been overworked regularly over time. Hamstring injuries are the most likely injuries you will see and in most instances will be because someone has started to run or work out without adequately warming up and stretching the muscles preparing all of the connective tissues for the oncoming exertion.

Symptoms will be pain and/or trouble moving the muscle and general stiffness.

When a tendon is repeatedly stretched and strained it becomes inflamed. It struggles to move the muscle and in turn movement becomes very painful. Again, this can be sport related but these repetitive strain injuries are more likely to be work related. Think: typist using the same small sets of tissues over and over;  a fork lift driver constantly moving the gear shift in and out of gear when he is turning in his truck in a relatively small space; a hairdressers forearm from continuously snip snip snipping.

Your biggest challenge with injuries to the tendons is blood supply. We need good circulation to bring nutrients to the tissue to help it repair, but blood flow to tendons and ligaments is very limited, so healing is very slow. Really we should encourage rest of around 6 weeks. Massage, of course, can help as it improves circulation but can also be a great preventative medicine that can be taken into the commercial environment.

Rotator Cuff Tears

These are injuries to muscles which surround and support the bones in the joint that makes up the shoulder. These tendons contribute to the structural strength of the joint and they rotate the shoulder, the hand, lower and upper arm, moving them backwards and forwards as well as twisting them round. If you turn your hand to face the ceiling, you will sense this set of muscles moving. Injuries to these tend to be because of fast and aggressive movements. Think of smashing a tennis or baseball. The sudden movement tears the connective tissues resulting in excruciating pain in the shoulder and reduced motility. In these cases, surgery can be recommended to repair the torn tissues, but massage can go some way to help to reduce the pain.

Muscle Cramps

A cramp is an involuntary movement which is very painful. Most people suffer these at night or after rigorous exercise. They are very sudden and usually only last a matter of seconds, but will shake you to the core! A muscle cramp is a direct communication from the body that something is wrong and should not be ignored.

Most likely causes are:

• Dehydration
• Lack of salt
• Lack of magnesium
• Poor circulation
• Trapped nerve

Always drink plenty of water when you get a muscle cramp. Gentle, but deep penetrating massage as well as slow careful stretching can free up the pain and relax the spasm. Again, because you have freed up toxins continue to drink lots of water.

Muscular Illnesses

Fibromyalgia

Signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Potentially you may get asked for help with this condition more than any other. It presents as “tender points” on the body which are excruciatingly painful. On bad days even the weight of a sheet in bed at night can have the sufferer in agony.

As well as the pain, sufferers experience dreadful fatigue and exhaustion, muscle stiffness and of course general pains such as menstrual period pain and headaches are amplified. Tender points are specific places on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, and legs. They might also complain of tingling in the joints, especially hands and fingers. Arguably the hardest part of the illness is the “brain fog” which descends and makes everyday thinking and decision making extremely difficult.

 As yet, it is not understood what causes fibromyalgia, although some schools of thought suggest that stress may make symptoms worse. It can develop in people of all ages but it is most common in middle-aged women. People with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases are particularly likely to develop fibromyalgia.

Myasthenia Gravis

This disease is autoimmune. Its name means “Muscular weakness, profound.” Here is where too many antibodies are produced so they interfere with the nerves that stimulate muscle contractions. Muscles in the neck and face are most obviously outwardly affected. Other apparent symptoms manifest as droopy eyelids and seeing double. The patient might find it very difficult to swallow and experience profound instances of fatigue and malaise. It can appear as if muscles are paralyzed but in fact, the muscles do not actually cease to function, rather their function is becoming fatigued very quickly each time they use them.

Muscular Dystrophy 

This term pertains to a set of diseases where the muscles controlling movement become progressively weaker. These are inherited diseases.  Its name gives a great deal of insight in the condition. The beginning of the word, dys-, talks about “abnormal”. The end, -trophy, discusses their difficulties maintaining the same normal nourishment, structures and functions as an “average” person. Duchenne MD is the form that most commonly affects children and only affects boys.  Muscular Dystrophy usually starts to present symptoms between the ages of two and six. The afflicted sadly live tragically short lives usually only into their late teens or early 20s.

Myositis

Myositis is an inflammation of the muscles that may be caused by an injury, infection, but autoimmune diseases can also trigger it. There are two specific strains of myositosis. These are:

• polymyositis
• dermatomyositis

Both cause muscle weakness. Polymyositis usually presents in the muscles closest to the trunk of your body. Dermatomyositis also causes muscle weakness, but in addition, has a skin rash. Other symptoms of myositis may include fatigue after walking or standing, repeated tripping or falling, developing trouble swallowing or breathing.

Sadly there is no known cure for these diseases, but symptoms can be treated by orthodox medicine. Polymyositis and dermatomyositis are first treated with high doses of a corticosteroid, and then other options include medication, heat therapy, assistive devices physical therapy, exercise, and most importantly learning to rest.

Source: Des Moines University Online Medical Terminology course, http://www.dmu.edu/medterms/musculoskeletal-system/musculoskeletal-system-diseases/