Muscular Pathologies Flashcards
Describe Impingement Syndrome
It is a condition of the shoulder whereby movement can be painful or limited.
What happens in Impingement Syndrome
The rotator cuff tendons and/or Bursa become inflamed. It is most notable when compressing the sub-acromial space where the Bursa and tendons sit within.
Where is the sub-acromial space
It is in the area between the humeral head and acromion.
What bones do the rotator cuff tendons connect
Humerus and Scapular
How does the rotator cuff tendon have to normally move and why?
It has to move intricately to avoid impingement
What are the causes of Impingement Syndrome? (5)
Overuse and working with hands raised over head.
Age - as we age blood supply is poor and tendons degenerate
Positional Fault - Humerus Head doesn’t sit well in the socket
Oddly shaped acromion - space is reduced
Bone spurs - reducing space where tendons and bursa sit beneath the acromion.
What are the signs and symptoms of Impingement Syndrome (4)
Painful arc of movement 60-120 degrees
Shoulder ache in the initial stages
Pain when abducting the shoulder and rotation i.e putting hand in back pocket
A catching sensation if felt on lowering the arm
What could indicate a rotator cuff tear?
Inability to raise the arm
Describe Fybromyalgia?
it is a chronic pain disorder with widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue.
What is Fybromyalgia often accompanied by?
Multiple unexplained symptoms such as anxiety depression and functional impairment of daily activities.
Is Fybromyalgia more common in men or women? What age does it tend to occur?
10 times more common in women than men and tends to occur between the ages of 30-50
What happens in Fybromyalgia?
It is associated with central sensitisation - a central disturbance in pain processing.
Normally, sensory input such as light touch or temperature is sent as nerve signals to the brain/spinal cord where it synapses with the nerves. However, in Fybromyalgia alterations occur in pain processing in the spinal cord and brain.
There are also high levels of substance P found in the synapses which makes the nerves more sensitised to pain.
Excess post-synaptic nitric oxide production also causes the synapses to amplify pain.
What are the causes and triggers for Fybromyalgia (6)
Poor Mitochondrial functioning - damage by free radicals
Altered stress response - i.e excess cortisol
Post viral and toxic load - heavy metals and chemicals
Poor Gut Health
Sleep dysregulation
Serotonin and noradrenaline deficiencies - which play a role in pain tolerance
Give examples of 4 signs and symptoms of Fybromyalgia
Widespread (diffuse) musculoskeletal pain
Pain from gentle pressure
Feeling of swollen joints (that aren’t actually swollen)
Headaches (muscular or migrane)
Debilitating fatigue and severely disturbed sleep
Anxiety and depression
What is the allopathic treatment for Fybromyalgia
Pain killers/pain clinics
Define a muscular dystrophies
A group of inherited muscular diseases that cause muscle degeneration and disease.
Give 3 characteristics/features of Muscular Dystrophies
Progressive skeletal muscle atrophy
Death of muscle cells and tissue
Defects on muscle proteins
What is Myasthenia Gravis?
It is an autoimmune disease of the neuromuscular junction. It is characterised by fluctuating muscle fatigue and weakness of muscles
What happens in Myasthenia Gravis?
Antibodies block acetylcholine receptors on the motor end plate. This prevents nerve impulses being send to the muscle fibres. The muscle becomes progressively weaker.
Who is Myasthenia Gravis most common in?
Women age 20-50
Which muscles are commonly affected in Myasthenia Gravis
Muscles of the face and neck
What does Ptosis mean?
Totis is drooping of the upper eyelid
What are the signs and symptoms of Myasthenia Gravis?
Weakness of the Ocular muscles
Weakness of the facial muscles (expressions) which spreads to proximal limbs
Symptoms worsen throughout the day
Death may result as a failure of the respiratory muscles as it can attack the Diaphragm
Difficulty with speech, chewing and swallowing.
What does asthenia mean
Weakness
What does gravis mean
serious; heavy
