Skeletal muscle is the muscle tissue that allows you to produce movement to perform a multitude of everyday activities. It contracts voluntarily, meaning you tell the muscle to contract through the connection from your brain to your muscles. In...
The disorder that causes rapid muscle growth occurs in people who have myostatin-related muscle hypertrophy, which is a rare genetic condition that reduces body fat and can double the body's muscle mass. The condition, which is also known as...
Your body consists of over 600 muscles that make up about 40 percent of your total body weight. These muscles are constantly contracting and relaxing in an effort to make your body parts move. You can increase the strength of your muscles by...
According to MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the U.S. National Institutes of Health, there are numerous problems that can affect the body's muscles, and muscle disorders can cause pain, weakness or paralysis....
Muscle pain, muscle weakness and paralysis can be signs of serious muscular problems. MedlinePlus says that muscle disorders can occur as a result of injury, overuse, infections, medications, genetics and inflammation. Muscular system diseases...
Vitamin E, found in high amounts in sunflower seeds, nuts, vegetable oils, spinach, broccoli and kiwi fruit, is an important nutrient for your muscles. Low levels of vitamin E may put you at risk for developing muscle diseases. It may also help...
The muscles in your body make it possible to move. Muscles cover your bones and make up the bulk of your heart. In fact, your heart is the most important muscle in your body because it pumps blood to your organs. Even your blood vessels contain...
Muscular eye disorders can be caused by damage to the nerves that control the muscles in the eye or by damage to the muscles themselves. There are several ocular muscle disorders; some are common, and others are very rare. Muscular eye disorders...
There are numerous diseases of the muscular system. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, muscle disorders can cause weakness, pain or paralysis, and some of the most common causes of muscle...
Selenium is a trace mineral you need in small amounts each day, but it is important for normal muscle function. Having a selenium deficiency leads to all kinds of side effects in normally healthy muscle tissue. A variety of meat, seafood, dairy...
ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a form of motor neuron disease. These diseases share in common the progressive degeneration and death of the motor neurons--nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain that enable muscle movement. Symptoms...
The muscles of the ocular system control the movement of the eyes and the eyelids. There are several disorders of the eye muscles that can cause the eyes to not move correctly or in unison or that can cause the eyelids to droop into the field of...
A calf cramp signals involuntary muscle contractions. Sometimes caused by neurological disorders or diabetes, calf cramps are frequently brought on by muscle fatigue and sodium depletion, especially in the competitive or elite athlete whose...
Muscles can be affected by many problems and disorders, which can cause weakness, pain, and loss of movement or paralysis. Muscular disorders, medically known as myopathies, can result from injuries, overuse, genetics, inflammation, diseases or...
Although fatigue after exercise is a normal response to physical exertion, extreme or persistent fatigue could indicate a health problem. People with extreme fatigue should seek medical evaluation, especially if other symptoms develop or they are...
Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders are commonly referred to as TMJ. The conditions affect the muscles and bone around the jaw area; the temporomandibular joint is near the ears where the lower jaw bone connects with the skull. Signs and...
Overactive bladder is a sudden urge to urinate that can cause loss of bladder control. Several medications can treat the symptoms of overactive bladder. However, you should be aware of the various risks and side effects with these prescription...
Inflammatory muscle disease is a group of muscular disorders, the majority of which can fall into the category of auto-immune disorders. This type of disorder occurs when the body is somehow triggered to literally attack its own tissues. It is...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports heart disease as the leading cause of death in the U.S. Many different disorders and diseases affect the heart; some are inherited, most are acquired throughout the course of life. Heart...
If you experience clicking or pain in your jaw, you may have a temporomandibular joint and muscle disorder. TMJ may be caused by grinding your teeth, clenching your teeth, getting braces or having a misaligned bite. In some cases, your doctor may...
Ringing in the ears is called tinnitus. The cause of tinnitus is not always known. Sometimes tinnitus is caused by exposure to loud noise, hearing loss, a buildup of earwax, physical defects in the brain or ear, physical injuries to the brain,...
The Mayo Clinic defines cerebral palsy as a category of disorders that are defined by the loss of movement or nerve functions. The problem does not originate in the nerves or muscles, but the part of the brain that controls the muscles.
Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders (TMJ) is a condition that affects the jaw joint and the muscles that help it to move. It varies in severity. In some cases it affects just one side and in others it affects both sides. A joint disorder...
Creatinine is a waste product produced by the muscles through normal contraction. According to Davita.com, creatinine passes through the kidneys to be filtered out through urination. When the kidneys cannot work efficiently, as with kidney...
The word myositis describes numerous diseases that trigger muscular inflammation. These include dermatomyositis and polymyositis. Myositis is also a symptom of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and scleroderma. Every year,...
Muscle-building diseases affect every part of daily functioning, from breathing to walking. These health problems usually result from genetic disorders inherited from one or both parents. Because the body's muscles help with movement and aid in...
Orthotics are devices used to help with bone and muscle disorders of the ankle and foot. Orthotics come in many varieties, ranging from insoles to be inserted into the shoe to large braces. Orthotics are designed to help correct foot positioning...
Simvastatin is a medication used to lower the cholesterol levels in your blood. Cholesterol is a fatty substance that can build up in your arteries and block the blood flow to your heart and brain. Such serious complications as a stroke or heart...
Common diagnostic tests used to diagnose problems within the musculoskeletal system use blood and urine samples. Both can reveal levels of various minerals and other substances indicating disease or a musculoskeletal disorder. Levels of certain...
Cardiogenic shock is the result of inadequate circulation of blood due to ventricle failure; learn about cardiogenic shock in this heart healthy video.
TMJ is a disorder associated with joint pain and muscle soreness. Learn some healthy options for dealing with TMJ in this video.
Parkinson's disease is a disorder that affects nerve cells in the part of the brain controlling muscle movement. Learn about Parkinson's disease symptoms, treatments, and diagnosis in this video on health and diseases.
Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a condition in which your legs feel extremely uncomfortable while you're sitting or lying down. It makes you feel like getting up and moving around. When you do so, the unpleasant feeling of restless leg syndrome...
Muscle spasms and cramps are often harmless but can accompany serious medical conditions. Learn about spasms and cramps in this medical video.