Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with muscles

Massage Therapy Q & A

sweetkid — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:20:48 -0800

What's that weird feeling when you get a relaxing massage? No really? Medically? Yesterday I got a brief chair massage and it really released a lot of tension in my neck and shoulders. After, I felt like a tingling running down my muscles as they relaxed, which I thought of as "blood running faster" when I was a lot younger, but that's not true.

What is the reason behind this sensation medically? What is actually happening to your muscles as they do this tingling thing after a massage?

I read another question about tingling but that seemed to be more of the "chills" variety.

I've always wondered about this!

Dumbbells vs Barbells

Vorteks — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:18:05 -0800

Is there any reason that barbells would be indispensable from a serious stength-training program? Or are dumbbells just fine? I've been wanting to get serious about building strength for a while now, and after reading a question about workout routines yesterday, I've pretty much decided to try the StrongLifts 5x5 routine. One question though: it seems a lot of these programs pretty much assume that when you're doing squats/deadlifts/bench press/etc that you'll be using a barbell. I don't have barbells, but I *do* have dumbbells. I've always thought that dumbbells would be better. Especially since I'll be lifting while alone in my apartment, if I run out of strength while doing bench presses or something, it seems like I'd be less likely to kill myself using dumbbells than barbells. But at the same time, if barbells are necessary to get the full effect of the exercises, I don't want to be shooting myself in the foot. Does it make a big difference? Why would one use barbells over dumbbells, or vice versa?

Thanks Mefites.

twist my arm

crazylegs — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:12:18 -0800

fiddle filter: why won't my arm do what I want it to do when I play the fiddle? I've just decided to learn to play the fiddle. Fifteen minutes into my first attempt at practicing scales, my left arm is stiff and hurting and won't bend properly. The position that I need to get my hand into seems very unnatural and uncomfortable. Is this me, or does it come with the territory? Am I physiologically unfit to play the fiddle? Am I doing something wrong?

Puffin tired

K.P. — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:47:14 -0800

Will inhaled propylene glycol vapor become lactic acid and cause sore muscles? More specifically, will inhaling the vapor of about 1.5-2ml of propylene glycol every day from an electronic cigarette (previously in the blue) lead to sore muscles? It's been suggested/asked elsewhere, but without a definitive and satisfying answer.

Pic of a guy who's really white and muscular

mpls2 — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 07:02:03 -0800

I'm looking for a muscular role-model... I need help finding a pic of a dude who's very cut and very white (as in, not tanned). Is it even possible to look cut when you have no pigmentation, or do I have to resort to spray-tanning?

Thanks!

Why is my girlfriend uncontrollably twitching and spasming?

Defenestrator — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 02:22:10 -0800

My girlfriend uncontrollably twitches and spasms while around me. Possible explanations? (slightly NSFW) It all started a few weeks into our relationship, following the first time we had sex. After we finished, amidst a great deal of excitement, emotion, and built up sexual tension (she didn't climax), her legs began to shake and twitch uncontrollably. She mentioned she didn't really know what was happening, and I was more flattered than anything. They gradually subsided.

From that period on however, throughout the year we've been dating, she has experienced muscle twitches of varying intensity when around me. They used to be single twitches, in the legs, spaced as closely as 5 or 10 seconds apart, but strangely enough they seem to have migrated to her torso after having her legs pinned down during one twitching incident. Recently the single twitches have been interspersed with rapid spasms that almost seem to catch her breath.

She reports that they happen only when focusing on me, and the only way she can stop them is by shifting her focus. Recently they have been precipitated more by "loving" thoughts, although sexual thoughts can do it as well and sometimes she responds to my inquisitions with, "I was thinking about your hand on my arm" or "I was focusing too much on your breathing next to me." They happen most often in intimate situations where we are touching, such as laying on the bed together, although they've happened without any physical contact.

Needless to say I like them. Uncontrollable muscle spasms speak louder than words right? Yet oftentimes they are so uncontrollable that they become a frustrating nuisance to her, and there is understandably some curiosity (and slight concern) as to what the medical basis is. She says they've never happened to her before, and neither her nor I have ever heard of anything like it.

Is this common? Has this happened to anybody else? And, although it doesn't seem it so far, should this be something to be concerned about?

How to become a better surf hopper-upper?

shivohum — Sat, 31 May 2008 08:34:34 -0800

I went surfing for the first time recently, and had a hard time doing the "hop up" on the surfboard -- my feet always tended to be too close together, and I just lacked agility. What are some exercises I could do that would strengthen the relevant muscles and/or otherwise make me a hop-master? Thanks.

crunch-filter: how do I stop my stomach from being sore?

krautland — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:36:07 -0800

crunch-filter: how do I stop my abdominal muscles from aching? it seems I went a bit too far with my crunches this week and now I'm unable to sleep with an aching tummy. I realize there's probably not a lot I can do about that right now I'd like to keep this from happening again, mainly because a sore stomach feels horrible. it's as if you were sick and wished you could throw up but just can't.

so is there a way to stretch your abdominal muscles? especially the upper ones seem to be the issue for me.

Stretching Without Bending

meerkatty — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:31:27 -0800

Is there a way to stretch my quadriceps without bending my knees? My right knee doesn't bend all the way - a result of constant patella dislocation when I was a teenager. I cannot do standing, sidelying or prone quadriceps stretches (all demonstrated here) with my right leg. But I desperately need to stretch and am worried about damaging my knee again because I'm not. (I'm presently running 5 times/week.) Anyone have any suggestions?

"Kosher" Position in Classic Meditation that Provides Full Back Support?

WCityMike — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:16:47 -0800

Are there alternatives to the lotus position for classic meditation that don't leave the back unsupported? I've found that sitting in an unsupported position, or in a chair that doesn't have a seat back, ends up making my back ache rather strongly. I've thought about investigating meditation (and looking into the more classical, early practices), but have wondered if there's a "kosher" (accepted in the discipline) way of doing the more classical meditations while having your back completely supported (by lying on the ground, or doing it in a chair, or what have you).

Tied up in Knots

anastasiav — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:42:00 -0800

My husband has a huge knot in the muscles at the small of his back (right where his spine meets his pelvis, very close to the spine). He's clearly in a great deal of discomfort, and wants me to massage the area (which I'm happy to do), but what else can he try? (He's already refused to go to the doctor or use a stick-on heat pack, and we don't own a heating pad.) Suggestions as to stretches, massage techniques, and other things we haven't thought of are welcome.

Unbalanced six-packs?

Quadroonian — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 00:27:45 -0800

Why do some people's abdominal muscles appear to be asymmetrical? I've noticed (from the couch, comfortably resting my one-pack) that some of the extremely well-defined six-pack abdominal musculature one ecounters surfing the web appears to be asymmetrical - the individual cans of the six-pack are off-set. Examples: 1, 2, 3, 4.

It seems to me that the basic symmetry of the body should make this a rare pathology - like having one arm lower than the other, or something. So, is this an optical illusion? A side-effect of bad training? The result of injury? It doesn't seem obviously related to posture.

Stop looking so mad all the time!

MayNicholas — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 17:35:29 -0800

I have noticed that over the past few years I have been carrying a lot of facial tension. It causes me to look like I'm either scowling or frowning. Please help me relax my face. I can't afford the botox route so natural, mental, or other free(ish) remedies only please. Thanks!

Like a bowlful of jelly.

dame — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 09:53:18 -0800

When I work my abs a lot, I get little mini shaky spasms, similar to what your muscles do after lifting, except they last for a while, say 24 hours, give or take, as opposed to up to two hours or so after weightlifting. Does this happen to you too? Is it common? Generally, it is the muscles up around the edge of the ribs, from the solar plexus to halfway down. It is not the muscles right at the top under the skin, but buried a little. I can feel it through my skin though.

It doesn't hurt at all, but I think it is odd and wondered how widespread it is. My ab work includes dryland (crunches, planks, some pilates stuff), and swimming, especially fly. Does it last longer because my abs are weak?

It's my secret X-men ability.

flod logic — Tue, 29 May 2007 09:44:52 -0800

MutantFilter: For as long as I can remember, I've had what I thought was a muscle missing in my upper right arm. I've never seen anyone else with this, nor have I been able to figure out if that's it for sure. Anyone who knows something about anatomy want to take a look at this? (Pictures included.) I've always had this "line" or indentation running across part of my upper arm where it looks like a muscle should be, but isn't. Until now, I've figured some muscle must be missing because I can poke that part of my arm and feel the bone in there, but looking at muscle diagrams and stuff hasn't helped to figure out which one(s) are missing, exactly.

Other people have suggested that it's not a muscle missing after all, mainly because I would have a limited range of motion in my arm or other movability issues with it if it were.

Pictures here, here, and here.

Any ideas as to what this is?

Why can induce muscle cramps in my feet so easily?

tomble — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 00:25:18 -0800

I can induce foot cramps really easily - why? I've always been able to induce foot cramps very easily.

All I have to do is either curl my big toe down - more like I'm trying to point the second joint down than curl it, and the big muscle in the arch locks up tight and hurts. If I sort of point my toes together as if they were going into a narrow toe shoe and hold them there, more muscles across my feet lock up.

It also can happen when I am kneeling down, because of the angle my toes are pushed into.

Now, this doesn't worry me. It can be stopped pretty easily, and I even find myself doing it consciously while lying in bed (the tendons kind of creak back into relaxation as it ends, and it feels cool!). It's also not a terrible pain, and though I'm not a masochist I kind of enjoy the experience.

I just wonder why this should be. My feet have done it for as long as I can remember, I have a balanced diet, walk a fair bit and don't have any real health issues. Unwanted cramps are pretty rare, and not very severe.

Does anyone else share this weird foot cramp problem, or have an explanation for it? I've looked around and not seen much information other than about general muscle cramps

Which muscles used to recover from heelside snowboard fall?

Malad — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 16:39:44 -0800

What muscles are used to recover from a heelside snowboard fall? If one were bad at getting up from such a fall, which exercises at the gym would you recommend to improve?

Getting back into the rotation of things

dead_ — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 10:31:22 -0800

Help me fix my stubborn rotator cuff. I have been very involved in fitness and lifting for a number of years. Last year I stepped up my workout routine and moved on to much heavier weights and experimented with powerlifting.

Inevitably, I injured my rotator cuff with all the heavy weights. I immediately went through physical therapy for nearly 2 months and stopped lifting almost completely. By the time I had returned to the gym, I had lost a substantial amount of strength, though I was still able to lift.

However, the problem persisted and I could still feel nagging stings in my shoulder--which was my body telling me it was time for a much more serious break.

Well, it's been almost six months of break--no lifting whatsoever--and I've decided to go back to the gym. I've gone off all supplementation and have moved the weight down to nearly nothing (my 325 pound bench press has shrank to a very tough 135).

I'm trying to take things slow and easy, but I'm still feeling some lingering pain in my arm and I really do not want to re-injure my rotator cuff... but I love strength training!

Main question: What kind of exercises can I do to strengthen my rotator cuff while I'm at the gym? Exercises that work, please! I'm looking for things that specifically target the rotator cuff, in order to strengthen it for other exercises and prevent injury.

What should I avoid?

Has anyone else ever gone through this?

Should I give up strength training entirely?

Any other rotator cuff advice is welcome, thanks!

What is the best way to workout using weights?

fox_terrier_guy — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 06:24:04 -0800

Help me understand newer trends in muscle development with weights. OK, so I have been working out using weights off and on for numerous years since I was a teen. In the past I had always been told that you need to work the muscle to (near) exhaustion, as that is what causes growth - well, that and increasing the weight you lift every time if possible.

However, some recent articles I read tells me of a new trend; that of only doing one exercise/session/group and going heavier. For example, rather than doing 5 sets bench press (to say 200#) and then later coming back to the pec deck to fully exhaust the chest, the article says to simply do benches to five sets but try to go to 205#. Then you move on to the next group.

The theory is that when doing the pec deck, you don't actually stimulate growth as the weight will most likely not be heavy enough. I like the idea of streamlining my workouts, but why do workouts if they don't *work*?

So, looking for knowledgable responses on this topic. FWIW, I am a middle age ectomorphic guy and I do try to go to greater weights every time by keeping a logbook.

I want to expand my in-home workout routine.

BuddhaInABucket — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 12:01:05 -0800

I want to expand my in-home workout routine. I actually like working out, but I hate going to the gym and all the attendant drama involved with me figuring out the correct way of using 300 machines and not dropping dumbbells on myself. To that end, I've begun working out in my home, using only my own body weight as resistance.
So far, I do two different kinds of pushups (regular and diamond), situps (the bicycle kick kind), and handstands against the wall (held for a period of time, like 45 seconds today, and eventually, I will move to handstand pushups when I'm ready). I also run and do yoga as I feel moved to.
These exercises together pinpoint my chest, abs, shoulders, if I figured it out right (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong). I'd like to know what other exercises I can do using only my body weight and no props other than things that can typically be found at home.
Bonus: I'd love for my back to look less flabby.

As zombies get weaker, we get stronger

Astro Zombie — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 19:15:35 -0800

Zombiefilter: How long would it take before a zombie's muscles were no longer functional? In my ongoing preparations for the inevitable zombie takeover, it has occured to me that, while zombies seem to have somehow arrested their state of decay, their bodies no longer repair injuries. Knowing that every time we use a muscle it tears the muscle slightly, how long would it take before a zombie's legs were functionally useless? And, further, how much longer would it be before they could no longer drag themselves by their arms and can be eliminated with a simple coup de gras to the head?

help needed finding a webpage with an image

mirileh — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 01:38:24 -0800

ImageSearchFilter: I'm looking for a webpage with an image I should have bookmarked. Please help me find it! While researching a medical problem I came across a webpage with an illustration of the neck muscles responsible for bending the head forward (I think the motion is defined as neck flexion). The picture showed the side view of a person, shoulders up, bending his head forward. It was an outline of a person where you could see the muscles and bones. The muscles participating in the motion were named. Something that might help with the search: the same site had an equivalent page for neck extension (taking the head back).

I forgot to bookmark the page and really I need it. I have searched and searched and I can't seem to find it again. Can anyone help me out?

What's the best way to bulk up AND lose fat?

dustinAFN — Tue, 15 Feb 2005 07:59:43 -0800

What is the best way to bulk up in addition to losing existing body fat? [more inside] I have seen much conflicting information on this topic. I am in my early 20s and have a tall, rather lanky build. At 6'4" and 162 lbs, I am generally regarded as being anywhere between 15 and 40 pounds underweight. I would ideally like to gain enough muscle mass to go up at least one waist size. At the same time, I have some small existing areas of fat (i.e., stomach) that, although not excessive, would only worsen by taking in a large amount of additional calories. But I haven't started any serious cardio exercise for fear that I would get dangerously skinny.

What might the ideal body strategy for someone like myself consist of? Should I treat these two goals as separate entities, losing the fat first before trying to gain muscle?

Thank you, Ask MeFi.

My father was just diagnosed with polymyositis.

billysumday — Mon, 03 Jan 2005 11:00:26 -0800

My father was just diagnosed with polymyositis. His muscles are deteriorating and he can hardly dress himself, let alone drive two hours to his work or even do his work from home. Has anybody had a family member of close friend with this condition? What can I and my siblings and my mother expect? What can we do for him, if anything?

Sore Back

billysumday — Thu, 16 Dec 2004 09:23:04 -0800

Some muscle in my upper back, on the left side just inside my shoulder blade, has balled up and is really sore. I don't know how I injured it, but I do know I had trouble sleeping last night and this is the fourth day in a row it has hurt. I know a guy who is training to be a chiropractor, but I'm a little suspicious of going to a chiropractor, let alone a not-yet-quite-certified chiropractor. What would you suggest? A deep massage? Just wait for it to work itself out? See a real doctor? Or just keep popping the ibuprofens?