- macroscopic trauma to the muscle
Macroscopic Trauma is caused by a sudden forceful injury to the muscle.
The traumatic forces occur over a brief period, often milliseconds,
that are usually a single insult. Such a macroscopic trauma could occur
during a whiplash injury, or as the result of a blunt injury from a
fall, being struck by an object, or a back sprain from sudden lifting
of a heavy object. All these examples are considered "obvious" traumas.
- malingerophobia
This is used to describe a situation in which doctors are so frightened
of compensating malingerers that they are prepared to penalise the
deserving majority.
- marfan's syndrome
This is an inherited condition of collagen tissue which may have
minimal or even advantageous affects on the individual. At its extreme,
it can be life threatening. As far as work related upper limb disorders
are concerned laxjoints (doublejoints) may be present in those of
unusually tall build, possessed of an arm spread greater than their
height, which can lead to joint and posture problems. Marfan's is
probably the term given to an extensive family including many different
types of collagen disorders.
- microscopic trauma to the muscle
Microscopic Trauma occurs by a different mechanism from Macroscopic
Trauma. It represents a more subtle, low-grade type of trauma that
occurs over time from cumulative and repetitive actions on the muscles.
There is no one "obvious" trauma, but a series of low-grade muscle
insults that, over time, lead to pathological changes. Although
individuals can often recall the exact moment of injury in macroscopic
trauma, they will not usually remember any obvious single injury in
microscopic trauma.
Examples of microscopic trauma include shoulder strain in an
assembly-line worker who has done a lot of reaching and pushing for
several years, wrist strains in a secretary who spends hours a day
typing, and neck strain in a school bus driver who looks in the
overhead mirror to monitor what's going on inside the bus.
- morbidity
The condition of being diseased. The morbidity rate is the percentage of people who are affected by a particular condition.
- mortality
The death rate for a particular condition.
- motor phenomena
Loss of power in the hands and arms without any significant associated
muscle wasting. It may also be associated with poor co-ordination,
fatigue on repetitive movements, and loss of fine movements.
- mri scans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging. A non-invasive method of imaging the body
and its organs. The body is placed in a magnetic field which causes
certain atomic nuclei to align in the direction of the field. Pulses of
radio frequency are then applied and interpretation of the frequencies
absorbed and re-emitted allows an image of any body place to be built
up.
- musculo-skeletal
This refers to the skeleton and soft tissue of the body and is a non
specific term, often used when taking a medical history or carrying out
a physical examination, to describe the condition of the patient's
bones, muscles, tendons and nerves.
- myalgia
An abnormal state of the muscles characterised by pain and cramp.
- myclopathy
A degenerative condition of the muscles.
- myofascial pain syndrome (mps)
This describes a regional muscle pain disorder characterised by
localised muscle tenderness and pain associated with a trigger point.
- myofascial trigger points
This is defined as a hyper irritable spot which is painful on
compression and can give rise to referred pain, tenderness and
autonomic phenomena.
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