Torticollis is both a diagnosis and a description of a medical problem where the muscles in the side of the neck are in a prolonged state of contraction or spasm, causing the head to tilt and twist to the side. The term comes from the Latin words...
Electrical muscle stimulation, or EMS, is a modality frequently used by physical therapists. EMS machines are devices that generate electrical impulses. The impulses flow through wires to the connected electrodes. By adhering the electrodes over...
According to MayoClinic.com, alkaline water has a higher pH level than does regular tap water. Natural health specialists and alternative medicine nutritionists recommend alkalizing water. The belief is that alkaline water can be beneficial to...
The dangers of alkaline arise when your body reaches a state known as alkalosis. This occurs when fluids in your body have excess base or alkali. Lower carbon dioxide or higher bicarbonate levels make your body too alkaline. Low carbon dioxide...
The sciatic nerve, which is the longest in the human body, runs from your lower back and branches out down both legs. Sciatica is pain relating to the sciatic nerve. By itself, sciatica is not an illness or disease, it is a symptom. The reason for...
Most people have experienced a muscle spasm and know that the pain can be severe. A spasm is the involuntary contraction of a muscle and most often occurs in the lower back or neck and shoulders. These spasms can cause local pain and put pressure...
All chemicals, natural and otherwise, have a pH level, which is a measurement of hydrogen. The pH scale ranges from zero to 14, with zero being purely acidic, 14 being purely alkaline and seven being neutral. According to "The Complete Book of...
Perhaps nothing can curtail a cardio workout faster than muscle spasms. The degree of pain will vary with the muscles involved. Most times, they are temporary conditions that go away gradually as the body stabilizes. Cardio workouts can trigger...
There are numerous conditions that can cause muscle spasms. According to MedlinePlus from the National Institutes of Health, muscle spasms, also known as charley horses, can occur in any muscle. When a muscle spasms, it contracts involuntarily or...
Diazepam, the generic name for the drug Valium, is a medication mainly used to treat anxiety. Other uses of the drug include inducing conscious sedation and skeletal muscle relaxation, such as in prolonged seizures or conditions causing muscle...
Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient for key body functions such as maintaining nerve cells and producing brain chemicals. A deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause some serious problems in the body. Since people get vitamin B12 in their diets from...
Horney goat weed is an herb traditionally used in Chinese medicine to correct erectile dysfunction in men and to increase libido or sexual drive in both men and women. Goat weed, known by a variety of names such as Epimedium, barren wort and yin...
The bilberry plant resembles the blueberry bush, and the fruits also have a similar taste and appearance. Bilberries may have medicinal qualities, and many people eat the fruit or take bilberry extract supplements. Components of this plant may...
Leg cramps are painful contractions of the muscles of your legs, particularly in your thighs and calves. These cramps can be caused by intense or prolonged physical activity or exercise, or by muscle spasms triggered by dehydration, impaired...
The anus, the end of the digestive tract, opens to allow the passage of stool. Passing large or hard stools may cause tears in the walls of the anal canal. These tears, referred to as anal fissures, are common for individuals with constipation,...
Foot and toe cramps occur when a muscle involuntarily contracts and will not release. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, cramping happens more commonly in parts of the body where a muscle spans two joints, such as in the...
Muscle spasms, also called cramps, are involuntary contractions of a muscle that can be helped by botulinum toxin, a protein that blocks the muscle spasm message. Strangely, eating more protein or taking a protein supplement may increase cramps....
There are numerous causes of leg muscle spasms. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, muscle spasms or cramps are sudden, involuntary contractions in one or more of a person's muscles that last...
Muscle cramps, or spasms, are painful involuntary contractions of your muscle. They often occur in large muscle groups that are frequently used, such as your lower leg or calf, hamstrings and quadriceps. You can also experience muscle spasms in...
Symptoms of anxiety include worry, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping, an upset stomach, rapid heartbeat and sweating. Herbs including valerian, passionflower, kava kava and lavender may help relieve anxiety, but should only...
Muscle spasms are involuntary contractions of a muscle. They are a common components of neck pain and injuries and can be the result of many different conditions. In most cases, muscle spasms are minor annoyances that improve quickly on their own...
When foods are digested, they are classified as either acid or alkaline producing by nature. This is measured by the pH value of the remains after food has been metabolized. While it is important to consume both acid and alkaline foods to keep pH...
Low back pain often results from injuries or muscle spasms. Common causes included prolonged sitting, muscle strain, ligament sprain, problems with the intervertebral discs, falls, vehicular accidents or the use of back muscles you do not usually...
