Have you ever wondered what happens inside your body when you walk, run, raise your hand, or even just smile? Like all of these, there is an amazing part of our body that helps our heart beat and our breathing without us even realizing it. That is called Muscles. Today, let's talk about these muscles in a simple way.
Simply put, what are these muscles?
Muscles are a type of soft tissue found throughout our bodies. They are like the engines in our bodies. From keeping us standing to running a marathon, these muscles help us do everything. Not only that, but these muscles also move and support our internal organs. Just think, our heart is a special muscle that beats thousands of times a day, keeping us alive, working non-stop.
With over 600 muscles in our bodies, injuries, disorders, and conditions are common. The occasional muscle twitch or aching is common. However, if you have persistent muscle pain or weakness, it could be a sign of something more serious. So if you have muscle pain that lasts for more than a week, or if you have difficulty moving your body, you should definitely see your doctor. If you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, you should go to the emergency room (ETU) of a hospital immediately.
What are the main services that muscles provide to our body?
Muscles make our bodies move. These movements occur in two main ways.
- Voluntary movements: These are the movements that you do with your mind and control. When you decide to do something, your muscles move according to the signals from your brain and do it. For example, reading this article, scrolling up and down on your phone screen, eating rice, walking, and running belong to this category.
- Involuntary movements: These happen without our control , without you even thinking about them. The muscles around our internal organs work in this way to keep our body processes running smoothly. Examples of this include the beating of the heart, the contraction of the chest muscles when we breathe, and the digestion of food.
Muscles that function in both of these ways work in conjunction with almost every system in our body.
- For the one who sees and the one who hears
- Breathe, talk and swallow food
- Digest food and eliminate waste
- Move, stay in one place, and stand up straight.
- Pump blood through the heart
- To give birth to a child
Muscles help with all of this. Muscles also help store the energy our body needs and release it when needed.
How many types of muscles are there?
The muscles in our body can be divided into three main categories based on the type of tissue they are made of.
| Muscle type | Description | Functionality |
|---|---|---|
| Skeletal muscles | These are the muscles that are attached to our bones. They are what move us and support the weight of our bodies. | We can control it as we want (Voluntary). These are what make every movement we make consciously. |
| Cardiac muscle | This special muscle is only found in our heart. In medical science, it is called the myocardium . | It works automatically without our control (involuntary). It is this muscle that makes the heart contract and expand to pump blood. |
| Smooth muscles | These are located in the walls of our internal organs, such as the intestines, lungs, and bladder. | They work automatically, without our control (involuntary). They do things like move food through the intestines and make the lungs contract and expand. |
What are the common disorders and diseases that affect muscles?
Muscle strains are the most common muscle injury. They occur when we overuse a muscle or exert too much force at once. Just like an old bungee cord breaks when pulled, the delicate fibers in a muscle tear when stretched beyond their limits.
There are also various medical conditions that affect the muscles.
- Fibromyalgia
- Myopathies
- Myositis and Polymyositis
- Infections like influenza and COVID-19
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Cardiovascular disease
What are the symptoms of a muscle problem?
These are the most common symptoms of a muscle disorder or disease:
- Muscle pain
- Weakness, lifelessness
- Feeling of stiffness in the body
- Muscle spasms/cramps
- Swelling
- Bruising or skin discoloration
How do you treat a muscle problem?
The type of treatment you need will depend on the condition or disorder you have. Some muscle problems are short-term, while others are long-term (chronic) and require ongoing management of symptoms.
Most of the time, minor muscle injuries can be treated at home using the RICE method .
| Method (RICE) | What to do |
|---|---|
| R - Rest | Rest the injured area. Avoid the activity that caused the injury. Do not overuse the area until it heals. |
| I - Ice (Icing) | Apply ice to the injured area for about 15 minutes at a time, several times a day. Wrap the ice in a thin cloth to prevent it from touching the skin directly. |
| C - Compression | Wrap the injured area with an elastic bandage to reduce swelling. Ask your doctor how to do this safely. |
| E - Elevation | Keep the injured part above the level of your heart whenever possible. |
When should I see a doctor?
If your muscle pain does not subside within a week with home treatments and rest, see your doctor.
If you have any of the following symptoms, go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.
- Sudden chest pain or other symptoms of a heart attack.
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing.
- Severe pain, muscle twitching, or weakness in the body.
- Loss of balance in the body.
- Sudden worsening of vision.
- Inability to control urine or stool.
After all, the more than 600 muscles in your body are constantly working, both when you think about it and when you don’t. Some muscles you can see and feel (especially after a good workout). But others, like your heart, work silently to keep you alive. While it’s normal to have aches and pains every now and then, don’t ignore them if you have persistent pain. It could be a sign of a medical condition that needs to be checked out by a doctor.
Take-Home Message
- Muscles are essential for every movement in our body, both those we do intentionally and those that happen spontaneously.
- There are three main types of muscle: skeletal muscle (which we can control at will), cardiac muscle (found in the heart), and smooth muscle (found in internal organs).
- For a minor injury like a sprain, you can follow the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation) at home.
- Warming up and stretching before exercising can help prevent injuries.
- If pain persists for more than a week or if you have severe symptoms such as chest pain or difficulty breathing, seek medical advice immediately.
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