Hundreds of musculoskeletal diseases and disorders afflict us, some are quite minor, others can cause severe, unrelenting damage. A few are as follows:
1. Myasthenic gravis is a motor disorder with an autoimmune component. It develops from repetitive muscular use. A hallmark is muscle fatigue.
2. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune neuromuscular degeneration caused by demyelination of motor neurons. It is characterized by a progressive loss in muscle function.
3. Spasmodic torticollis is a seizing of the muscles of the neck and or shoulder caused by remaining in one position for extended periods of time. It is characterized by an inability to turn the head.
Maintaining good muscle health is similar to maintaining good general health. You should eat a balanced diet, exercise routinely, and get proper amounts of rest.
Like the previous responders said, there are many. Here are a few more.
- Lou Gehrig Disease-Another name for Lou Gehrig disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). When a person has ALS it means that motor neurons has begun to shrink and the muscles are no longer being told to move. Over time, the body becomes paralyzed.
- Botulism-Botuism occurs from a neurotoxin coming from the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. When a person becomes infected, they experience paralysis.
- Tetanus-Tetanus also occurs because of a bacterial (Clostridium tetani) infection. This bacteria infects a wound and produces a neurotoxin which affects the muscles and nerves, causing muscle spasms. Another name for tetanus is lockjaw.
Since some diseases of the muscle are caused by bacteria, it is always important to keep wounds clean. In addition, exercise is a great way to keep the muscles toned but they do need adequate rest as well. It is also important to drink lots of water to stay hydrated.
There are too many diseases that effect the muscular system to mention. Many of them are brain disorders that effect the motor control areas in the frontal and parietal lobes of the brain. To name some:
Muscular dystrophy - genetic disease that renders muscle fibres more vulnerable to damage than normal
Dermatomyositis - autoimmune disease causing skin rash and muscle weakness
Compartment Syndrome - the result of too much pressure building up around the muscles causing severe pain and sometimes cellular death
Rhabdomyolysis - causes muscle fibbers to breakdown and get absorbed into the bloodstream, alcoholism, drug abuse, and heatstroke are several known causes
Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressia - rare congenital disease that causes the muscles, tendons, and ligaments to be replaced with bone tissue
If you want to keep your muscles system healthy you should:
Exercise on a regular basis
Eat a balanced diet
Consume a sufficient amount of Vitamin E