Medical dictionary

What is a multiple pregnancy? A multiple pregnancy is a pregnancy that involves the development of more than one foetus in the womb, resulting from the fertilisation of two or more ovules. Children who are the result of a multiple pregnancy can be identical twins (sharing the exact same set of genes) or non-identical twins (born from two eggs released at the same time). The rate at which ide

What is multiple sclerosis?Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the insulating layer of myelin around the nerves in the brain and spine. It disrupts the nervous system, meaning that the messages sent to and from the brain via electrical impulses may not reach their destination. This can lead to all sorts of unpleasant symptoms, such as p

What does a mummy makeover include? A mummy makeover generally includes a combination of breast augmentation, liposuction and a tummy tuck in one single procedure. The combined surgeries are designed to create a holistic transformation, addressing aesthetic and medical issues that arise after pregnancy, such as sagging breasts, lax skin in the abdomen, or stubborn pockets of exercise-resistan

What are muscle injuries? Muscle injuries are usually painful and are caused by overstraining, either during sports or during your daily activities. A muscle is made up of the discrete muscle and the tendons, and it can be imagines as a rope and its fibres. Muscle injuries can affect all of the fibres or only a part of them, and they can be classified into: contractures: the muscle become

What is a muscle contracture? A muscle contracture is, as its name indicates, a contraction of a muscle. The contraction of the muscle or one of its fibres is continuous and involuntary, such that the muscle is constantly tensed and prevents the person from performing everyday activities normally and without pain. This problem is quite common and is not restricted to sportspeople. It is impo

What is muscle tension?Muscular tension refers to the condition where one or more muscles remains semi-contracted for a prolonged period. This causes small lumps or “muscle knots” which you can feel by touching the affected area. Any muscle can feel stiff or tense; however, the most affected areas usually are the neck, the cervical area, the trapezius muscle, the lower back and the legs.Muscle sti

What is muscular dystrophy? Muscular dystrophies (MD) are a group of muscle diseases that result in increased weakening and breakdown of the neuromuscular system, leading to an increasing level of disability. Some common types of MD include: Becker MD limb-girdle MD Duchenne MD Emery-Dreifuss MD myotonic dystrophy distal MD facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSH

What is musculoskeletal pain? Musculoskeletal pain can include pain felt anywhere in your bones, muscles, ligaments or tendons. The location of the pain, its severity, and how widespread it is depends on what condition or injury you have. The type of pain you experience is related to whether it comes from your bones, muscles or tendons: Muscle pain can be quite intense, particularly wh

There are over 200 types of musculoskeletal disorder. Physiotherapy is a popular form of treatment, with nearly 7 million people seeing a physiotherapist for a musculoskeletal condition in 2011.What is musculoskeletal physiotherapy?Musculoskeletal physiotherapy is a combination of techniques and strategies to help restore movement and function. Techniques include teaching exercises, practising par