Muscle Disorders (Print Version)

Also called: Also called: Myopathy

Your muscles help you move and help your body work. Different types of muscles have different jobs. There are many problems that can affect muscles. Muscle disorders can cause weakness, pain or even paralysis.

There may be no known cause for a muscle disorder. Some known causes include

Injury or overuse, such as sprains or strains, cramps or tendinitis
Genetics, such as muscular dystrophy
Some cancers
Inflammation, such as myositis
Diseases of nerves that affect muscles
Infections
Certain medicines

Start Here

Muscles(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/muscles/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/musclesspanish/htm/index.htm

Latest News

Statins Can Hinder Muscle Repair(09/25/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69735.html

Diagnosis/Symptoms

Electromyography and Nerve Conduction Velocities(Muscular Dystrophy Association) - http://www.mda.org/publications/Quest/q75ss.html
Muscle Biopsies(Muscular Dystrophy Association) - http://www.mda.org/publications/Quest/q74ss.html
Needle Biopsy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/needle-biopsy/MY00088/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
Stiffness, Cramps and Twitching(Muscular Dystrophy Association) - http://www.mda.org/publications/Quest/q73ss.html

Treatment

Botulinum Toxin Injections: A Treatment for Muscle Spasms(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/articles/017.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/articles/017.printerview.html

Specific Conditions

Compartment Syndrome(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00204
Extra-Abdominal Desmoid Tumors (Aggressive Fibromatoses)(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00505
Facts about Metabolic Diseases of Muscle(Muscular Dystrophy Association) - http://www.mda.org/publications/fa-metab-qa.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.mda.org/espanol/esp-fa-metab.html
Facts about Myopathies: What Are Myopathies?(Muscular Dystrophy Association) - http://www.mda.org/publications/fa-myop-qa.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.mda.org/espanol/esp-fa-myop-qa.html
Facts about Myopathies: What Are the Symptoms and Treatments for Each Inheritable Myopathy?(Muscular Dystrophy Association) - http://www.mda.org/publications/fa-myop-qa2.html
Familial Periodic Paralyses(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/periodic_paralysis/periodic_paralysis.htm
Metabolic Myopathies(American College of Rheumatology) - http://www.rheumatology.org/public/factsheets/diseases_and_conditions/metabolicmyopathies.asp?aud=pat
Mitochondrial Myopathies(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/mitochondrial_myopathy/mitochondrial_myopathy.htm
Multifocal Motor Neuropathy(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/multifocal_neuropathy/multifocal_neuropathy.htm
Muscle Contusion (Bruise)(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00341
Myofascial Pain Syndrome(Beth Israel Medical Center, Dept. of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care) - http://www.stoppain.org/pain_medicine/content/chronicpain/myofascial.asp
Myopathy(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/myopathy/myopathy.htm
Myotonia(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/myotonia/myotonia.htm

Related Issues

Diabetic Amyotrophy(American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine) - http://www.aanem.org/education/patientInfo/diabetic_amyotrophy.cfm
Foot Drop(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/foot-drop/DS01031/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
Foot Drop(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/foot_drop/foot_drop.htm

Tutorials

Muscles(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/muscles/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/musclesspanish/htm/index.htm

Anatomy/Physiology

Atlas of the Body: The Muscle -- Back View(American Medical Association) - http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZ5WGJU8JC&sub_cat=520
Atlas of the Body: The Muscle -- Front View(American Medical Association) - http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZPUF8BGJC&sub_cat=520
Atlas of the Body: The Muscle -- Side View(American Medical Association) - http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZ1PUCBGJC&sub_cat=520

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Muscular Diseases(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Muscular+Diseases%22

Genetics

Genetics Home Reference: Adenosine monophosphate deaminase deficiency(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=adenosinemonophosphatedeaminasedeficiency
Genetics Home Reference: Central core disease(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=centralcoredisease
Genetics Home Reference: Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=fibrodysplasiaossificansprogressiva
Genetics Home Reference: Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=hyperkalemicperiodicparalysis
Genetics Home Reference: Hypokalemic periodic paralysis(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=hypokalemicperiodicparalysis
Genetics Home Reference: Malignant hyperthermia(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=malignanthyperthermia
Genetics Home Reference: Multiminicore disease(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=multiminicoredisease
Genetics Home Reference: Myotonia congenita(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=myotoniacongenita
Genetics Home Reference: Paramyotonia congenita(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=paramyotoniacongenita
Genetics Home Reference: Potassium-aggravated myotonia(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=potassiumaggravatedmyotonia
Genetics Home Reference: X-linked myotubular myopathy(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=xlinkedmyotubularmyopathy

Research

Gene Expression Could Help Diagnose, Monitor Muscle Diseases(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/News_and_Events/Spotlight_on_Research/2008/gene_express_muscle.asp

Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Article: Drug interactions with simvastatin. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18927522&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Autosomal recessive myosclerosis myopathy is a collagen VI disorder. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18852439&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Non-operative management of femoral neuropathy secondary to a traumatic iliacus... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18827251&tool=MedlinePlus
Muscle Disorders -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(muscular+diseases[majr:noexp]+OR+muscle+weakness[majr])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
Muscular atrophy or wasting -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=muscular+atrophy[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus

Dictionaries/Glossaries

Glossary of Orthopaedic Words(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/glossary.cfm

Directories

American College of Rheumatology: Geographic Membership Directory(American College of Rheumatology) - http://www.rheumatology.org/directory/geo.asp
Find a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician(American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) - http://www.e-aapmr.org/imis/imisonline/findphys/find.cfm
Find an Orthopaedist(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://www6.aaos.org/about/public/members.cfm

Organizations

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons - http://www.aaos.org/
Muscular Dystrophy Association - http://www.mda.org/
Also available in Spanish http://www.mdaenespanol.org/
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/

Children

Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC)(American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine) - http://www.aanem.org/education/patientInfo/amc.cfm
Congenital Myopathy(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/myopathy_congenital/myopathy_congenital.htm
EMG (Electromyography)(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sick/emg.html
Hypotonia(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/hypotonia/hypotonia.htm
Myotonia Congenita(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/myotoniacongenita/myotoniacongenita.htm
Your Muscles(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/muscles.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/cuerpo/muscles_esp.html

Teenagers

Bones, Muscles, and Joints: The Musculoskeletal System(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/body_basics/bones_muscles_joints.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/cuerpo/bones_muscles_joints_esp.html

You may also be interested in these MedlinePlus related pages:

Fibromyalgia - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/fibromyalgia.html
Movement Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/movementdisorders.html
Multiple Sclerosis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/multiplesclerosis.html
Muscle Cramps - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/musclecramps.html
Muscular Dystrophy - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/musculardystrophy.html
Myasthenia Gravis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/myastheniagravis.html
Myositis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/myositis.html
Neuromuscular Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/neuromusculardisorders.html
Soft Tissue Sarcoma - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/softtissuesarcoma.html
Sprains and Strains - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sprainsandstrains.html
Tendinitis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tendinitis.html
Bones, Joints and Muscles - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bonesjointsandmuscles.html

The primary NIH organization for research on Muscle Disorders is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/