Joints, Muscles and Nerves: Link Between Brain and Body

From walking to bending and even breathing, every movement your body makes depends on the neuromuscular system. This intricate system includes your joints, muscles and nerves, all working together to provide a link between your thoughts and actions. 

Making Your Body Move 

Your nerves contain cells called neurons. When you need to move, these cells send messages through electrical impulses from your brain to your muscles. Your voluntary muscles — ones you consciously control — are signaled once they receive messages. 

For example, if you’d like to lift your arms or legs, your brain signals to the particular muscles you use to complete that motion. When this happens, the motor neurons send chemicals to the muscle fibers, causing them to contract and move. 

Joints provide a wide range of motion and are controlled by opposing muscles, allowing for back-and-forth movement. For instance, when you bend an arm, your biceps contract and your triceps relax and stretch. 

The involuntary muscles include muscles in the heart, lungs, bladder and intestines. While we don’t consciously “ask” these muscles to move, they still work with your neuromuscular system to function effectively. For example, for your heart to beat, electrical signals are sent from your brain to your heart, signaling it to contract and pump blood. 

How Neuromuscular Injuries Feel 

Depending on what part of the neuromuscular system you’ve injured, the pain sensations you’ll feel can be quite different. 

Signs of nerve injury: 

●      Numbness, tingling or burning that may radiate from your hands or feet

●      Difficulty moving parts of your body

●      Struggling with coordination and movement

●      Muscle weakness 

Signs of muscle injury: 

●      Sudden sharp pain with throbbing, recurring pain afterward

●      Tenderness, spasms or cramps

●      Bruising or redness on the skin

●      Limited motion 

Signs of ligament injury: 

●      Severe, sudden pain

●      Looseness in your joints

●      Hearing a popping sound when the joint moves

●      Inability to comfortably move your joints or muscles 

If more than one part of your neuromuscular system has been injured, you may experience these symptoms simultaneously. These signs could also indicate an underlying nerve or muscle condition. 

Using Electromyography (EMG) To See Past the Pain 

If your symptoms recur for several weeks, your doctor may send you for electromyography (EMG) imaging. EMG measures the electrical activity of the muscles when you’re at rest or moving. It’s used to diagnose muscle and nerve disorders more accurately.  

During an EMG, sports medicine physicians and orthopedists record muscle activity while it’s at rest, then you’ll be asked to contract the muscle. Different muscles will be recorded throughout the EMG to get a detailed result. 

If necessary, a nerve conduction study will be used to measure how fast it takes for electrical signals to travel through your nerves. The combination of these tests can precisely diagnose specific conditions. 

Treatment for Neuromuscular Conditions and Injuries

●      Nerve-related pain and muscular pain may be treated with pain medication and anti-inflammatories.

●      Guided rehabilitation may be prescribed to improve movement. This usually involves exercises, either home workouts or physical therapy, depending on the severity of your condition. 

If you suspect you’ve injured a muscle, nerve or joint, talk to your doctor immediately. The earlier your condition is diagnosed and treated, the better your chances for treatment and management.