During the first year of life, you need to help your baby's muscles develop so those muscles will be better able to perform tasks as your child ages. Exercises for stretching can be done during play, and are a good way for you to promote muscle development while spending quality time with your infant.

Shin pain is a common complaint among runners. Athletes just starting a running program in particular risk developing pain if they do not adequately prepare for the impact on the shins.

Leg spasms, also known as muscle cramps, are involuntary muscle contractions that fail to release, states the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Cramps affect skeletal muscles but typically occur in the hamstring, quadriceps and calf areas.

The serratus anterior muscle is located toward the top and side of your rib cage. This finger-like muscle stabilizes the scapula and assists in elevating your arm. The serratus anterior also helps lift the ribs to assist in respiration.

Slipping rib syndrome, which may also be known as Tietze's syndrome, is considered to be somewhat uncommon. It occurs when the ligaments that hold the ribs in place become weak. This weakness may cause the ribs to slip out of place.

Tendons are the connections between bone and muscle. Tendons are composed of dense fibrous connective tissues, have limited blood supply and are under almost constant tension from use. These properties make it hard for the body to repair tendons when there is a tear, strain, sprain or other damage.

Exercising is rough when you have tired, aching legs. Walking on hard, flat surfaces can cause your legs to rotate inward in such a way that injures your calf muscles. Your feet flatten and twist to accommodate unnatural flooring or poorly-fitting shoes, which then puts pressure on the musculature of your legs.

The teres minor muscle is one of four rotator cuff muscles that surround the shoulder. According to the Sports Injury Clinic, the teres muscle helps to externally rotate the shoulder. Injuries to the teres minor can be treated with stretches that help to restore flexibility and reduce pain.

A sports hernia is caused by the weakening of the muscles or tendon in the lower abdominal wall. When these weakened muscles are overexerted or overused, a muscle tear occurs inside the groin and in the oblique abdominal muscles.

Aching muscles can occur for a variety of reasons ranging from overexercising, the flu, food allergies and just plain being overtired. Consuming vitamins regularly that can prevent your muscles from aching and taking homeopathic remedies to relieve soreness may enable you to recover quickly from what ails you.

In our culture, sleep deprivation in the name of accomplishment has become a badge of honor, letting the world know that you are going the extra mile to succeed and provide for your family. But the health repercussions of inadequate sleep may eventually net you diminishing returns.

Muscle tone is the amount of tension a specific muscle has, according to the Department of Occupational Therapy at Royal Children’s Hospital. Having low muscle tone will make it difficult to perform an activity or maintain proper posture. Hypotonia is a state in which the strength of the muscle is severely reduced.