Muscle strength

Rigid bones are needed for kinetic motion, support of internal organs, and muscle strength. The bones that compose the human thigh are pound for pound stronger than steel. Nature meets these needs by separating the skeleton into several bones and bone systems, creating joints where the bones intersect. 

Musculoskeletal Effects. No studies were located regarding musculoskeletal effects in humans after inhalation exposure to trichloroethylene. Trichloroethylene exposure can result in nervous system effects that result in secondary effects on muscle strength, especially in the face (Leandri et al. 1995). See Section 2.2.1.4 for further discussion of nervous system effects following trichloroethylene exposure. 

Reduced lean body mass Reduced muscle strength Reduced exercise performance Thin, dry skin cool peripheries poor venous access Depressed affect, labile emotions Impaired cardiac function... 

Referral to a physical or occupational therapist may be helpful, particularly in patients with functional disabilities. Physical therapy is tailored to the patient and may include assessment of muscle strength, joint stability, and mobility use of heat (especially prior to episodes of increased physical activity) structured exercise regimens and implementation of assistive devices, such as canes, crutches, and walkers. The occupational therapist ensures optimal joint protection and function, energy conservation, and use of splints and other assistive devices. 

Weight-bearing aerobic and strengthening exercises can decrease the risk of falls and fractures by improving muscle strength, coordination, balance, and mobility. 

Instead of directly correcting ED, testosterone-replacement regimens correct secondary ED by improving libido. Usually within days or weeks of starting therapy, they restore muscle strength and sexual drive and improve mood. 

Pulmonary i Respiratory muscle strength i Chest wall compliance i Total alveolar surface i Vital capacity i Maximal breathing capacity... 

There are many different reasons why elderly people fall more easily than young people do. Chronic diseases often give rise to general weakness, less muscle strength and impaired balance which all can make falling more dangerous (Box 5.9). 

As we grow older our muscle strength diminishes and the risk of developing sarcopenia increases. The meaning of the word sarcopenia is an abnormal decline in muscle strength and mass. Another word is muscle atrophy. Between early middle age and older age the mean decrease is 50% of muscle mass. Another way to calculate the loss of muscle mass is that over 50 years of age 1-2% of muscle tissue mass vanishes yearly. Between 50 and 70 years of age almost 15% of muscle strength per 10 years disappears. The resulting disability in older persons with sarcopenia has been calculated to cost approximately 900 dollars per person and year. The yearly total of healthcare expenditures for sarcopenia in the United States is estimated at 18-20 billions (Janssen et al. 2004). 

The concept of sarcopenia is not as well known as osteoporosis, which is the equivalent in bone tissue loss. Even though an older patient has not lost weight, sarcopenia can still be present because of an increased amount of fat tissue. It is important to check the patients for muscle strength as this is a condition which we are able to treat successfully if discovered in time. There are several other reasons for loss of muscle strength in the elderly, such as sickness, inactivity and poor nutrition (Doherty 2003). 

The normal loss of muscle strength in the process of aging is caused by a combination of factors, both genetically and life style components. The life style factors are physical inactivity and low intake of nutritional agents of which protein is the most important. 

Drugs that increase sedation and give muscle relaxation can have a negative effect on muscle strength and the ability to maintain physical activity, for example, benzodiazepines and other tranquilizers. Corticosteroids have a well known side effect on muscle tissue that leads to muscle atrophy and increases with the dosage. 

R T is one form of vigorous physical activity, and as such may share the benefits for muscle strength and metabolic capacity which probably selected for such general forms of play in most mammalian species. However, this does not explain the more specialised forms of vigorous play which constitute R T, nor its social nature. 

Muscle strength Force Grip strength Rat Horner et al.192... 

Bone health is not the only issue. Muscle strength has been shown to improve with increasing serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels up to 40 ng/ml. Low levels of vitamin D activity are associated with increased risk of colon, prostate, and breast cancers. The incidence of multiple sclerosis decreases with increasing serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels above 24 ng/ml. These are a few of several examples suggesting that many of us have lower levels of vitamin D activity than are optimal for health. ... 

While the dose-limiting toxicity for vinblastine usually is leukopenia, that for vincristine is most commonly neurotoxicity (58). Prominent manifestations of neurotoxicity are loss of the Achilles tendon reflex, paresthesias, loss of muscle strength (e.g., in the foot and wrist), and ataxia. Constipation and abdominal pain may occur and are thought to result, at least in part, from actions on the autonomic nervous system. Leukopenia and stomatitis are possible effects of vincristine treatment, but they occur relatively infrequently. Alopecia occurs with vincristine at a frequency comparable to that observed with vinblastine, and vincristine also is a potent tissue irritant. Vincristine may produce a syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone, and some manifestations of neurotoxicity, such as seizures, have been considered to be due to electrolyte disturbances associated with the relative excess of the antidiuretic hormone (58). 

Kennel P, Revah F, Bohme GA, et al (2000) Riluzole prolongs survival and delays muscle strength deterioration in mice with progressive motor neuropathy (pmn). J Neurol Sci 180 55-61... 

The pronounced weakness that may result from inadequate therapy of myasthenia gravis (myasthenic crisis) can be distinguished from that due to anticholinesterase overdose (cholinergic crisis) by the use of edrophonium. In cholinergic crisis, edrophonium will briefly cause a further weakening of muscles, whereas improvement in muscle strength is seen in the... 

The aminopyridines (4-aminopyridine 3,4-diaminopyri-dine) accelerate spontaneous exocytosis at central and peripheral synapses. There is also an increase in the number of transmitter quanta released by a nerve action potential. This is probably the result of increased Ca++ inflow at the terminals due to a reduction of K+ conductance and prolongation of the nerve action potential. Muscle strength is increased in patients with the Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome and in others poisoned with botuUnum E toxin (discussed later). Improvement in uncontrolled spasms, muscle tone, and pulmonary function is noted in patients with multiple sclerosis or long-standing spinal cord damage. Side effects that limit clinical utility include convulsions, restlessness, insomnia, and elevated blood pressure. Of the two agents, 3,4-diaminopyridine is the more potent and crosses the blood-brain barrier less readily. 

Reliable antidotes for botulism are not available. In some cases, anticholinesterase drugs may improve muscle strength, albeit temporarily. Guanidine and 4-aminopyri-dine also have limited usefulness. Management depends primarily on supportive measures, such as administering antitoxin and maintaining respiration. 

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