Knowledge about loss of muscle function

What conditions lead to loss of muscle function?

When you are healthy, you have control over muscle function in your voluntary muscles. Voluntary muscles are skeletal muscles that you have complete control over.

Involuntary muscles, such as your heart and intestinal smooth muscles, are not under your conscious control. However, they can also stop functioning. Loss of involuntary muscle function can be fatal.

Loss of voluntary muscle function can be caused by a number of causes, including disorders that affect the muscles or nervous system.

muscle disease

Diseases that directly affect muscle function are responsible for most loss of muscle function. Two of the more common muscle diseases that cause loss of muscle function are muscular dystrophy and dermatomyositis.

Muscular dystrophies are a group of diseases that cause muscles to gradually weaken. Dermatomyositis is an inflammatory disease that causes muscle weakness and a distinctive skin rash.

Nervous system disease

Diseases that affect the way nerves send signals to muscles can also cause loss of muscle function. Some neurological disorders that cause paralysis are:

• Bell's palsy, which causes partial paralysis of your face
• ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)
• Botulism
• Neuropathy
• polio
• Stroke
• Cerebral Palsy (CP)

Many diseases that cause loss of muscle function are hereditary and present at birth.

Injuries and other causes

Severe injuries are also responsible for a large number of cases of paralysis. For example, if you fall from a ladder and injure your spinal cord, you may experience a loss of muscle function.

Long-term use of medications and medication side effects can also lead to loss of muscle function.

Diagnose the cause of loss of muscle function

The location of the loss of muscle function, the part of the body affected, and other symptoms can provide clues as to the underlying cause. They may also perform tests to evaluate your muscle or nerve function.

Medical history

Let your doctor know whether your loss of muscle function occurred suddenly or gradually.

Also, please mention the following:

• any other symptoms
• medications you are taking
• if you have trouble breathing
• If your loss of muscle function is temporary or recurring
• If you have difficulty grasping items

test

After performing a physical exam and reviewing your medical history, your doctor may order tests to see if a nerve or muscle condition is causing your loss of muscle function.

These tests may include the following:

• In a muscle biopsy, your doctor will remove a small piece of muscle tissue for examination.
• In a nerve biopsy, your doctor will remove a small piece of the possibly affected nerve for examination.
• Your doctor can do an MRI scan of your brain to check for tumors or blood clots in your brain.
• Your doctor can perform a nerve conduction study, which tests your nerve function by using electrical pulses.

Treatment options for loss of muscle function

• physical therapy
• occupational therapy
• Medications that reduce the risk of stroke, such as aspirin or warfarin (Coumadin)
• Surgery to treat underlying muscle or nerve damage
• Functional electrical stimulation, a procedure that stimulates paralyzed muscles by sending electrical shocks to them

Prevent loss of muscle function

• To lower your risk of stroke, eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Limit salt, added sugars, solid fats, and refined grains in your diet.
• Exercise regularly, including 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week.
• Avoid smoking and limit alcohol consumption.
• To reduce the chance of accidental injury, avoid driving under the influence and always wear a seat belt when operating a motor vehicle.
• Keep your home in good repair by repairing broken or uneven steps, fixing carpets, and installing handrails next to stairs.
• Clear snow and ice from sidewalks and collect clutter to avoid tripping.
• If you use a ladder, always place it on a level surface, open it fully before use, and maintain three points of contact on the rungs while climbing. For example, you should always place two feet and one hand or one foot and two hands on the rungs.