Some common muscle disorders include sprains, strains, TMJ, fibromyalgia, and tendinitis. A sprain is caused by the stretching or tearing of a ligament, the tissues that hold bones together at joints. Sprains can be caused by falls, twists, and force injuries, with ankle and wrist sprains being the most common. Sprains are one of the most common muscle disorders, with symptoms ranging from pain, tenderness, swelling, bruising, and stiffness. Some people complain of not being able to move the joint affected by the sprain.
A strain, on the other hand, is a torn or stretched muscle or tendon, the connection tissues between muscle and bone. Twists and pulls can often lead to a muscle strain, with back and hamstring strains being the most common. These types of issues often appear during sports, but can also develop over time. Strains are usually accompanied by any one of the following symptoms: spasms, swelling, and the inability to move the strained area.
The treatment for sprains and strains is a two-part process. First the sufferer should rest, ice, compress, and elevate the affected area. Then, sufferers should resume movement at a slow pace, increase muscle strength to defend against injury, and alternate activities.
Disorders of the temporomandibular joint, the joint that connects the mandible to the head bone, are usually referred to as TMJ. This includes several disorders that cause discomfort, pain, and a lack of function in the jaw and jaw muscle movement. While these disorders do not tend to be permanent or a sign of serious problems, those suffering from TMJ disorders often feel pain in the chewing muscles, popping and clicking in the jaw area, and jaw stiffness. While most TMJ cases go away with no treatment, those with long-term problems have found treatments such as ice application, soft food diets, and avoidance of large open mouth movements, such as gum chewing, to be helpful.
Fibromyalgia is one of the more common muscle disorders that is associated with painful tenderness at points around the body, fatigue, and stiffness. Additionally sufferers often experience sleep problems, tingling of the hands and feet, headaches, and memory loss. There is no specific cause for this disorder, although trauma to the body could be one possible cause. Muscle disorders such as fibromyalgia can be treated with a variety of drugs that may include anti-depressants, pregabalin, and other pain relievers.
Tendinitis can be caused by injury, activity or rheumatoid arthritis, and is characterized by inflammation of a tendon or tendons, the chords that connect muscles to bones. Most people suffering from tendinitis experience pain and tenderness in one of the following areas: shoulders, knees, hips, heels, wrists, or elbows. Treatments for this group of muscle disorders include alternative exercise programs, stretching, ice, medicine and rest. Some sufferers experience success with treatments such as steroid injections, physical therapies, and surgery.
