Spasticity is generally caused by damage or disruption to the area of the brain and spinal cord that are responsible for controlling muscle and stretch reflexes. These disruptions can be due to an imbalance in the inhibitory and excitatory signals sent to the muscles, causing them to lock in place.
Or you're on a jog when your calf muscle seizes up. These muscle spasms (aka muscle cramps) are unexpected but also very common. And in most cases, they're no big deal. But regular spasms can also be a sign of a more serious problem, such as kidney disease or a nerve injury.
A muscle cramp is a sudden, unexpected tightening of one or more muscles. Sometimes called a charley horse, a muscle cramp can be very painful. Exercising or working hard, especially in heat, can lead to muscle cramps. Some medicines and illnesses also might cause muscle cramps.
Vitamin D deficiency can cause muscle aches, weakness, and bone pain in people of all ages. Muscle spasms (tetany) may be the first sign of rickets in infants. They are caused by a low calcium level.
Disease Overview
Stiff person syndrome (SPS) is a rare acquired neurological disorder that most often causes progressive muscle stiffness (rigidity) and repeated episodes of painful muscle spasms. Muscular rigidity often fluctuates (i.e., grows worse and then improves) and usually occurs along with the muscle spasms.
² Your brain reacts to the stress by triggering either a fight, flight, or freeze response. These stress responses result in physical changes as your body prepares for action. These changes include an increase in blood sugar, blood pressure, or electrical activity in the nervous system, and muscle tightening.
Muscle stiffness is generally characterized by soreness and difficulty moving, sometimes accompanied by cramps, pain, or weakness. Most often, muscle stiffness will occur in the morning and last for less than 30 minutes after waking up or for a couple of days after engaging in new or more challenging exercise.
There are three different types of muscle spasms in MS: Flexor spasm — The limb bends up toward the body. Extensor spasm — The limb shoots out, away from the body. Adductor spasm, commonly in the legs and thighs — The limbs come in toward each other.
If you sit too much, have poor posture, don't exercise or rarely use your back or stomach muscles, those muscles can get weak and spasm. Using your muscles too much. Athletes and those who do a lot of heavy lifting may experience back spasms.
Myositis (my-o-SY-tis) is a rare type of autoimmune disease that inflames and weakens muscle fibers. Autoimmune diseases occur when the body's own immune system attacks itself. In the case of myositis, the immune system attacks healthy muscle tissue, which results in inflammation, swelling, pain, and eventual weakness.
Peripheral neuropathy produces symptoms such as weakness, muscle cramps, twitching, pain, numbness, burning, and tingling (often in the feet and hands). Symptoms are related to the type of affected nerve and may be seen over a period of days, weeks, or years.
Musculoskeletal: When you feel stressed, you may notice your jaw is locked or your fists are clenched, this is caused by muscle tension. When the brain senses injury or pain, it seizes the muscles to brace for impact. Chronic stress can cause the muscles to remain in a state of guardedness.
Muscle twitches can occur for many reasons, such as a lack of sleep, nutrient deficiencies, overexertion, and stress. The remedy may be as simple as getting enough sleep, but it will depend on the cause.
Muscle spasms are very common, and people do not usually need to worry about them. Overexercising, dehydration, and stress are the most common causes. The spasms happen when the muscle suddenly moves involuntarily.
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune disorder in which antibodies destroy the communication between nerves and muscle, resulting in weakness of the skeletal muscles. Myasthenia gravis affects the voluntary muscles of the body, especially those that control the eyes, mouth, throat and limbs.
Fibromyalgia can make you feel stiff. The stiffness may be most severe when you have been in the same position for a long period of time – for example, when you first wake up in the morning.
Symptoms include blurry vision, difficulty moving arms and legs, changes in sensation, loss of bladder control, and seizures.