I’m not sure how we as a society ever existed before Wikipedia. Blogs definitely wouldn’t have ever come into existence, because all research done on an Internet thing starts deep in the bowels of the Wikipedia machine.
I’ve gone on long Wiki reading binges prompted by the most random curiosity, and I’ve read words about things that most normal people wouldn’t invest more than eight seconds into. Example: this past weekend while camping and gazing up at stars that may or may not have actually been up in the sky, I read the entire page on the Big Dipper, or as I call it “Saptarishi.”
Anyone who’s ever had the kind of back spasms that Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is dealing with knows the spasm sensation well. It’s a tingling sensation, and then it can build into a full-out cramp and muscle seizure. But as is often the case, Wikipedia describes it with far more delightfully colorful language.
Mostly, the color is red.
A variety of types of involuntary muscle activity may be referred to as a “spasm”. Examples include muscle contractions due to abnormal nerve stimulation, or abnormal activity of the muscle itself. A series of spasms or permanent spasms are called a spasmism. A spasm may lead to muscle strains or tears of tendons and ligaments, if the force of the spasm exceeds the tensile strength of the underlying connective tissues, such as with a particularly forceful spasm, or in the case of weakened connective tissues.
True hypertonic spasm is caused by malfunctioning feedback nerves, is much more serious, and is permanent unless treated. In this case, the hypertonic muscle tone is excessive and the muscles are unable to relax.
A spasmism is the most terrifying “ism,” and is only rivaled by any Bushism. For Lynch owners, it’s about to become far more frightening, and it’ll send you straight to a very different kind of reading, that of the frantic waiver-scouring variety.
Lynch didn’t practice Monday, and now his status for Seattle’s season-opening game against Arizona is in question.
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