Neuromuscular disorder
Neuromuscular Disorder
Neuromuscular disorder (pronunciation: neuro-muscular disorder) is a term that encompasses a broad range of medical conditions that impair the functioning of the muscles, either directly, being pathologies of the voluntary muscle, or indirectly, being pathologies of nerves or neuromuscular junctions.
Etymology
The term "neuromuscular" is derived from neuro, from the Ancient Greek neuron meaning "nerve", and muscular, from the Latin musculus meaning "muscle".
Types of Neuromuscular Disorders
Neuromuscular disorders are categorized into several types, including:
- Motor neuron diseases: These disorders include conditions such as Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and Progressive bulbar palsy (PBP).
- Neuromuscular junction diseases: These include conditions like Myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton syndrome.
- Muscular dystrophies: This category includes disorders like Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Becker muscular dystrophy.
- Peripheral nerve disorders: These include conditions like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Symptoms
Symptoms of neuromuscular disorders can vary widely, depending on the specific disorder and the areas of the body affected. Common symptoms may include muscle weakness, muscle wasting, cramps, stiffness, and twitching.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders typically involves a combination of clinical examination, medical history, and specialized tests such as Electromyography (EMG), Nerve conduction studies (NCS), and genetic testing.
Treatment
Treatment for neuromuscular disorders depends on the specific disorder and may include physical therapy, medication, and in some cases, surgery.
See Also
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