Muscle Pathologies Flashcards
What can cause muscle strains
Over-stretching of muscle fibrils or tendons - forced beyond normal range
Muscle remains whole & Blood supply intact to permit healing
What are muscle tears
More significant, where the muscle tears & no longer whole can cause bruising & prevents natural healing
What is impingement syndrome
Describes the shoulder condition in which movements of the shoulder can be painful & limited
The rotator cuffs &/or bursa can become inflamed/damaged (found within the sub-acromial space)
What is the sub-acromial space
Area between the humeral head & the acromion
Risk factors of impingement syndrome
Overuse & working with arms raised overhead (sleeping with arm overhead)
Common with increasing age as blood supply is poor & tendons degenerate
Positional fault eg hesd of humerus not sitting perfectly in socket
Bone spurs can reduce space available for bursa & tendons
Impingement syndrome treatment
Allopathic- anti-inflam drugs / steroid injections / osteopathy
Natural - herbal oils eg peppermint (antispasmodic) frankincense, acupuncture, homeopathy (arnica), osteopathy, chiropractor, exercise
What is fibromyalgia
A chronic pain disorder, heavily associated with widespread muscoskeletal pain & fatigue
Multiple symptoms
Neurophysiologic basis eg abnormalities in pain processing by the CNS
Women more affected
Diagnosed by excess pain on 11 or more predefined pressure points
What is central sensitisation
Pain perception to sensory stimulus that would not normally be painful
Disturbance in pain processing
What is substance P
Substance found in synapses which makes nerves more sensitised to pain
(Excess postsynaptic nitric oxide production also causes synapse to amplify pain signals)
Causes of fibromyalgia
Individual dependant
Biological, environmental & possibly genetic
Poor mitochondrial functioning - damaged by free radicals
Altered stress response (excess cortisol, adrenal fatigue etc)
Post-viral & chronic toxic load eg heavy metals/chemicals
Poor gut health
Serotonin & noradrenaline deficiencies
Sleep dysregulation
Fibromyalgia treatment
Need an understanding of why individual is experiencing such
Gut, check for dysbiosis, parasites etc - digestive support
Detox - support liver removing heavy metals & chemicals eg rosemary
Mitochondrial support- antioxidants, magnesium malate, B vitamins, essential fats
Reduce stress- nervine herbs eg passionflower & valerian & adaptogens
Breathing exercises, acupuncture, homeopathy
What are muscular dystrophies
Group of inherited muscular diseases that cause muscle degeneration & weakness
What is myasthenia gravis
An autoimmune disease of the neuromuscular junction, characterised by fluctuating muscle fatigue & weakness
Antibodies block acetylcholine receptors
Commin in women age 20-50
Myasthenia gravis symptoms
Weakness of ocular muscles - double vision & ptosis (drooping of the eyelid)
Weakness in facial muscles/expressions
Diffuculty with speech, chewing, swallowing
Symptoms worsen throughout day
Can be deadly progress to other structures
Myasthenia gravis treatment
Allopathic- Acetylcholineesterase inhibitors, steroids but lots of side effects, plasma exchange in severe cases
Natural - herbal (immune modulation), acupuncture, homeopathy, nutrition (nerve&muscle function) eg calcium, magnesium
