Definition

A condition where one or more muscles become stiff or have spasms, often seen in certain muscle disorders.

Example

Myotonia can make it difficult for patients to relax their muscles after use.

Conversation

Have you heard about myotonia?

Yeah, I read that it's a condition where muscles can become rigid.

Exactly! It must be really tough for those who have it.

For sure, I can't imagine dealing with such muscle spasms.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Myotonia → It is formed from "myo-" (from Greek "musculus", meaning muscle) and "tonia" (from Greek "tonos", meaning tension or tone). The word refers to a condition characterized by prolonged muscle tension.

Memory Tip

Think of 'muscle' ('myo-') and 'tension' ('tonia') to remember that myotonia is about muscle tension.

Visually Confused Words