Neuromuscular Disorders
Neuromuscular disorders affect your nerves or muscles. The most common symptom of neuromuscular disorders is weakness, although other symptoms may include numbness and pain. The most common neuromuscular disorders in children are muscular dystrophies, congenital myopathies, hereditary neuropathies (i.e., Charcot Marie Tooth), and spinal muscular atrophy.
Muscular dystrophy refers to several progressive muscle diseases that weaken the muscular system and impair movement, such as walking. Some more common forms of the disorder are:
- Duchenne: Progressive muscle degeneration and weakness that primarily affects boys, with symptoms appearing in children typically between ages 3 and 5 years
- Limb-Girdle: Muscle weakness primarily affecting the shoulders, upper arms, and calf muscles, and sometimes the heart
- Myotonic: The inability to relax muscles
Overview of Neuromuscular Disorders