This document discusses various homeostatic imbalances that can affect the muscular system. It begins by explaining how healthcare providers must determine if mobility issues are caused by joint, neurological, or muscular problems. It then defines and provides details on several specific muscular conditions: muscle atrophy (wasting), strain, dystonia, hernia, tetanus, muscular dystrophy, and myasthenia gravis. The document concludes by mentioning traumatic muscle injuries from overuse or accidents that athletes commonly experience.

1. Homeostatic Imbalance of the
Muscular System
HS EHS Unit 3

2. Learning Targets
• Discuss homeostatic imbalances and
relate them back to things we have
learned about the functions of the
muscular system.

3. Determining the cause of mobility
loss…
• As discussed, mobility is a function of 3 systems.
– When problems occur, HCPs are challenged to
determine where the root of the problem lies.
– For instance, if an elderly patient has begun to have
trouble walking, it could be one of several things.
• Joint degeneration (causing pain, poor ROM)
• Neurological issues (such as Parkinson’s)
• Muscular Issues (such as Myasthenia Gravis or atrophy)
– Differential Dx allows us to narrow down the cause
and eliminate options to find the problem.

4. Muscle Atrophy
• Atrophy is a term for
something that is
diminishing in function or
size.
– Muscle atrophy may occur
due to loss of nervous
function, disuse, or
malnutrition.
– This results in weakness.
– Physical therapy and
massage, along with proper
nutrition, can reduce the risk
of this in paralyzed or
immobile patients.

5. Muscle Strain
• Probably the most common injury to
muscle tissue, AKA “pulled muscle”,
results from over stretching or even minor
tearing.
– We treat using the RICE method (rest, ice,
compression, elevation)
– Symptoms include soreness, pain, stiffness.

6. Dystonia
• This is a condition of involuntary muscle spasms that
may occur repeatedly of periods of time, or that may
contract and hold for a period.
– Torticollis is a type that effects the neck
– Blepharospasm is the medical term for twitching in the
eye.
– Chronic cases are caused by imbalances in acetylcholine
or other neurotransmitters.

7. Hernia
• Hernia occurs when
underlying organs protrude
through a weak spot in the
muscle walls.
– Recall, one of the
functions of the system is
to compress our organs.
– Increased intra-abdominal
pressure (lifting heavy
things, pregnancy, etc.)
can cause hernia.
– Not an emergency unless
it can no longer be
reduced, or becomes
painful.

8. Tetanus
• Tetanus is a prolonged, extreme
contraction of muscle caused by a
toxin produced a bacteria called
Clostridium tetani.
– It is very painful, and can be fatal in
babies, especially.
– It can be prevented by a vaccine.
– Commonly associated with severe
traumatic injuries that are open for 6
hours or longer, or puncture wounds.

9. Muscular Dystrophy
• Genetic defects cause muscle
cell degeneration with age.
– These occur more often in
males, and usually have onset
sometime in childhood or
adolescence. There are some
adult onset cases.
– Weakness is usually first noted
in posture and walking.
– Typically progresses until the
patient cannot breath without a
respirator.
– Some medications and
therapies slow the rate of
progression, and gene therapy
may hold a cure.

10. Myasthenia Gravis
• This is a condition caused by autoimmune
response that destroyed the neuromuscular
junctions.
– ACH receptors are destroyed, so muscle contraction
cannot be triggered.
– Disease comes in spells and long periods of
remission are common.
– Patients can be treated with medication or removal of
the thymus gland, which has a role in the immune
system.

11. Traumatic Muscle Injuries
• Overuse or accidents may
cause acute or chronic injury in
the muscular system.
– Very common in athletes.
– Most common are shin splints,
tendonitis, and rotator cuff
injury.
– These can be treated with
RICE, and physical therapy.
Surgery is occasionally
needed injury is severe.
– Steroid injections can reduce
inflammation for about one
month at a time.