Muscle Strains

Skeletal muscle relaxants are used in various acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions, such as muscle strains and back pain. 

Besson JM. The neurobiology of pain. Lancet 1999 353 1610-1615. Jarvinen TA, Kaariainen M, Jarvinen M, et al. Muscle strain injuries. 

Medicine Ultrasonic imaging (2 -10 MHz) is used, particularly in obstetrics, for observing the foetus and for guiding subcutaneous surgical implements. In physiotherapy lower frequencies (20-50 kHz) are used in the treatment of muscle strains, dissolution of blood clots and cancer treatment. 

Skeletal muscle spasms are used to describe the increased tension often seen in skeletal muscle after certain musculoskeletal injuries and inflammation (muscle strains, nerve root impingements, etc.) occur.20,96 This tension is involuntary, so the patient is unable to relax the muscle. Spasms differ from spasticity because spasms typically arise from an orthopedic injury to a musculoskeletal structure or peripheral nerve root rather than an injury to the CNS. Likewise, muscle spasms are often a continuous, tonic contraction of specific muscles rather than the velocity-dependent increase in stretch reflex activity commonly associated with spasticity. The exact reasons for muscle spasms are poorly understood. According to some authorities, muscle spasms occur because a vicious cycle is created when the initial injury causes muscular pain and spasm, which increases afferent nociceptive input to the spinal cord, further exciting the alpha motor neuron to cause more spasms, and so on.61,96 Other experts believe that muscle spasms occur because of a complex protective mechanism, whereby muscular contractions are intended to support an injured vertebral structure or peripheral joint.96 Regardless of the exact reason, tonic contraction of the affected muscle is often quite painful because of the buildup of pain-mediating metabolites (e.g., lactate). 

Muscular disorders Diazepam is useful in the treatment of skeletal muscle spasms such as occur in muscle strain, and in treating spasticity from degenerative disorders, such as multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy. 

Diazepam can be used to reduce muscle spasm of any origin including local muscle strain (Miller 1995). The dose rate for the use of diazepam as a minor tranquillizer in horses is 0.01-0.04mg/kg i.v. (Muir Hubbell 1989). Diazepam may cause muscle fasciculation, weakness and ataxia in horses when used at doses sufficient to cause sedation, the doses required to produce reduced muscle tone. Doses of greater than 0.2mg/kg may induce recumbency (Plumb 1995). 

The woman appears to be suffering from muscle strain. You could recommend an over-the-counter analgesic ibuprofen might be the most effective, so long as she is not hypersensitive to it. She should also take a few days off work to allow her muscles to recover, and heat treatment such as hot baths may help. 

Benzodiazepines are of value in alleviating the symptoms of cerebral palsy, spasticity resulting from degenerative disorders such as multiple sclerosis, tetanus, stiff-man syndrome, and backache and muscle strain. The effective doses are generally large and may be increased as the disease progresses (e.g., multiple sclerosis). 

Carisoprodol is a centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxant. It is indicated as an adjunctive treatment for acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions (e.g., muscle strain). Carisoprodol (350 mg p.o. t.i.d.) is indicated as an adjunct to physical therapy in acute painful musculoskeletal conditions. It causes muscular relaxation by blocking interneuronal... 

It is used for the treatment of painful muscle spasm associated with musculoskeletal disorders, such as spondolytis, sprains and muscle strains. It is also recommended sometimes for vertebral disk disorders and cervical root syndrome. 

These materials have shown thickness strains on the order of 5% with fast response times [18]. Representative results are shown in Rg. 1.5. As seen in the figure, the required fields are quite high as in most electronic EAPs. Strains tend to show a peak and decrease for stresses above and below the peak value. Reported values for irradiated P(VDF-TrFE) show peak strains at 20 MPa, dropping to 50% of the maximum value above 40 MPa and below 5 MPa [112]. Elastic moduli in the range of 0.3-1.2 GPa have been reported with energy densities around 1 MJ m [7]. In order to compete as artificial muscles, strain values will have to be improved. 

Physical conditioning or stretching programs to reduce the risk of muscle strain and... 

Where a load has to be moved there are a number of simple steps that can be taken to prevent back and other muscle strain ... 

Manual materials handling accidents result in a variety of injuries. Few involve fatalities. Objects and loads may fall and injure hands, feet, and legs. Lifting may cause muscle strains and joint injuries. By far, back injuries are the most common injuries from manual materials handling. According to several studies, low back injuries account for about one-quarter of all workers compensation claims. 

Muscle injuries are relatively uncommon in children. Muscle injuries maybe direct (e.g. muscle contusion) or indirect (e.g. muscle strain or tear). 

Newman JS, Adler RS, Rubin JM (1997) Power Doppler sonography use in measuring alterations in muscle blood volume after exercise. AJR Am J Roentgenol 168 1525-1530 Noonan TJ, Garrett WE Jr (1992) Injuries at the myotendi-nous junction. Clin Sports Med 11 783-806 Noonan TJ, Garrett WE Jr (1999) Muscle strain injury diagnosis and treatment. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 7 262-269... 

Higashi, Y., Kiuchi, T, Furuta, K. 2010. Ef cacy and safety pro le of a topical methyl salicylate and menthol patch in adult patients with mild to moderate muscle strain A randomized, double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled, multicenter study, 32(l) 34-43. 

Moving drums manually can cause back or muscle strain. Drams can tip easily when being moved manually. 

Individuals subject to whole-body vibration have experienced visual problems vertebral degeneration breathing problems motion sickness pains in the abdomen, chest, and jaw backache joint problems muscle strain and problems with their speech. Although there are still many questions regarding vibration, it is definite that physical problems can transpire from exposure to vibration. 

Health care workers are at risk for work-related musculoskeletal injuries, such as back or muscle strain, without adequate ergonomics. This is true in nursing homes where nursing assistants must lift patients with impaired mobility. These workers can benefit from ergonomically designed patient-handling equipment and devices such as belts and portable hoists to lift patients. 

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