Dystonia, or uncontrollable involuntary muscle contraction, is the third most common disorder seen by movement specialists and affects approximately 300,000 people in North America, according to the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation. Dystonia...
Without them you couldn't sit, stand or smile. In fact, you couldn't breathe, swallow, circulate your blood or live. They, of course, are muscles. Muscles make up almost half of your body weight. Ordinarily your muscles accomplish their work with...
Respiratory alkalosis is a condition in which carbon dioxide is expelled from the body faster than produced due to excessive respiration. This causes an increase in blood pH, making it more alkaline and exciting the nervous system. If extreme,...
Twitching in the legs after exercise or stretching is not uncommon. Twitching can be caused by deficiency in the diet, exercise, drugs or stress. It many cases, the twitching is minor and will go away on its own or with self-care measures. Simple...
Anterior spinal cord injury results in what is known as anterior cord syndrome. This is an incomplete spinal cord injury that usually results from a bone fragment or disk herniation producing an infarction, or occlusion of an artery in the...
Imagine not being able to control the movements of your body. This is a situation many movement disorder patients face on a daily basis. Abnormal movement disorders are caused by a variety of neurological diseases that either inhibit movement or...
A muscle cramp is an involuntary muscle contraction in which your involved muscle does not relax. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons states that though cramps may manifest in any of your skeletal muscles, the most commonly affected...
Whether you are a high-performance athlete in training, a busy mom on the go or a senior citizen looking to stay active, muscle cramps can be a painful sign that your body could be lacking key nutrients such as potassium, which is required for...
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, with an estimated 700,000 occurrences per year, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is...
Many aftereffects occur as a result of a stroke. The effects experienced are based on the type of stroke, which area of the brain is affected, the degree of the brain injury and the stroke victim's general health. Most of the symptoms that are...
Hamstring muscle strains are common injuries that occur during normal athletic movements, such as running, jumping and kicking. Three muscles make up the hamstring muscle group: the biceps femoris, semitendinosus and semimembranosus. Each muscle...
Hiking is a great way to build strength in your leg muscles and throughout your body. As with any type of exercise, however, you may begin to feel fatigue in your muscles due the strenuous body movements required in the act of hiking. Leg...
Dietary minerals are metals and inorganic compounds found in foods. Potassium is one of seven major minerals your body requires. Potassium is an electrolyte, meaning it becomes a charged particle in solution, allowing it to conduct electricity....
You may occasionally experience cramps or tight, throbbing pain caused by involuntary muscle contraction. You also may feel pain from muscle strain, dehydration, menstruation or from illnesses, such as diabetes, anemia and kidney, hormone or...
Sciatica is a condition that occurs when your sciatic nerve, a peripheral nerve that begins in your lower back and travels down to your buttocks and lower limbs, becomes compressed, inflamed or irritated. Symptoms may include lower back pain that...
A muscle spasm is an involuntary muscle contraction that occurs when the brain sends signals for the muscles to contract when it is not warranted by the body. Muscle spasms can last for minutes to hours, depending on the severity and cause of the...
The brain is a highly complex organ divided into specialized regions, each responsible for a specific function. A stroke is a lack of blood supply to the brain and can damage particular areas, resulting in a variety of impairments involving...
Normal function of urinating is an orchestrated system of kidney function, nerve signals and muscle activity. When the bladder is functioning normally, signals are sent to the brain to urinate when the bladder begins to fill and expand. The...
Potassium is an electrolyte, an electrically charged molecule important in the maintenance of fluid balance. Most potassium is found within the cells. The small amount of potassium in the bloodstream is important in muscle contraction, the...
Cyclists commonly experience the discomfort of leg cramps after an intense workout. Although cramps are painful, they are rarely a cause for concern. There are several steps you can take to treat and prevent legs cramps after cycling.
Pain in a calf muscle can leave you struggling to walk much less able to complete an exercise like jumping rope. Most calf pain is the result of strains or contusions in the calf. Athletes can take certain measures to relieve their pain based on...
If you are experiencing leg cramps while you are swimming, there are various possible causes. Because swimming requires all the muscles of the body to work together to perform a single task -- getting to the other end of the pool -- it is...
Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine drug, commonly prepared as the salt hydroxyzine HCl. As a chloride salt, the pharmaceutical is sold under multiple brand names, including Atarax and Tranquizine. Like many antihistamines, hydroxyzine HCl has a...
Potassium is a mineral essential for the proper function of all the cells, tissues, and organs in your body. Potassium gluconate is one of several types of potassium supplements available to help prevent or treat low potassium levels, a condition...
Muscle cramps can stop you in your tracks. A muscle cramp is a sudden, involuntary muscle contraction that can make it temporarily impossible to use the affected muscle. They can happen at any time. Your glutes are one of the largest muscles in...
Cogentin, the drug name for benztropine, is a medication administered to people on antipsychotics as an adjunct therapy to reduce some of the side effects of these medications. Neuroleptic drugs that reduce the symptoms of psychosis sometimes...
A side cramp, also known as a "stitch," is caused by an involuntary muscle contraction. According to the Mayo Clinic, side or leg cramps can happen during exercise or physical exertion, especially in hot weather. To avoid getting cramps, drink...
Leg cramps, caused by involuntary muscle contraction and also called a "charley horse," can come on without warning and be excruciatingly painful. They are a sudden and intense tightening of skeletal muscle that won't relax, typically affecting a...
Your body needs potassium, which it can get from foods you eat. This metallic nutrient assists in maintaining fluid content in cells, regulating blood pressure, transmitting nerve impulses, voluntary and involuntary muscle contraction, and the...
Muscle spasms and cramps are often harmless but can accompany serious medical conditions. Learn about spasms and cramps in this medical video.
Leg cramps are painful involuntary contractions of the muscles in the leg. Get expert tips and advice on massage and other treatments in this video.
