Micro-organisms in the gut support healthy digestion by helping nerve cells within the intestine to regulate the contraction and relaxation of the muscle wall of the colon, according to new research ...

Muscle co-contraction is a strategy used commonly in elderly people to increase their stability. Co-contraction involves the simultaneous contraction of pairs of muscles from opposing groups to lock a ...

The contraction of smooth muscle is an essential process underpinning diverse physiological functions ranging from gastrointestinal motility to vascular regulation. At its core, smooth muscle ...

A new molecular pathway has been identified that is critical for maintaining the smooth muscle tone that allows the passage of materials through the digestive system. Researchers at UMass Medical ...

Background Most studies of exercise-induced muscle injury have focussed on eccentric contractions, which are known to produce damage and delayed soreness. It is less well known that isometric ...

Progressive muscle relaxation is a technique of sequential contraction and relaxation of the muscles of the body from head to toe. It is easy for patients to learn and can be an important adjunctive ...

Panel A shows the microscopic myoarchitecture of the circular and longitudinal muscle layers of the lower esophageal sphincter and stomach. The circular muscle fibers of the esophagus cross each other ...

Frequent headaches, restless nights and unexplained muscle cramps may signal magnesium deficiency. An internal medicine ...

Muscles are made to move. Stretching and contraction stimulate biochemical pathways within muscle that maintain tissue health. When movement slows—when a broken limb is immobilized in a cast, for ...

Beet juice boosts endurance for many (but not all) people, according to a series of studies over the past five years or so. The active ingredient appears to be nitrate, which somehow reduces the ...