Disorders of the Muscular System

The classification of diseases and disorders of the muscular system can be made as infectious, hormonal, genetic, autoimmune, cancerous and poisonous. Physical injuries to the muscles however, are the common causes of disorders of the muscular skeletal system. The treatment for disorders of the muscular system is mostly either symptomatic or as a supportive therapy to the preceding illness.

Muscular System
The system of the body which facilitates its movement is termed as muscular system. In the vertebrates, the muscular system is controlled by means of the nervous system. The different types of muscles which form the human muscular system are the cardiac, skeletal and the smooth muscles.

Disorders of the Muscular System
The different disorders of the muscular system are explained in the following paragraphs.

Arthrogryposis: The arthrogryposis disorder which is also known as Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita is characterized by joint contractures, fibrosis and muscle weakness.

Central Core Disease: It is a congenital myopathy which was first described in 1956 by Shy and Magee. The various symptoms of this disease are decreased muscle tone, weakness of facial muscles, hip dislocation, scoliosis, etc. There is no specific treatment for this disorder however, the use of triggering anesthetics and muscle relaxants is avoided. The patient's relatives might be screened for mutations of RYR1 type.

Myopathy: It is one of the disorders of the muscular system which is characterized by muscle weakness resulting from improper functioning of the muscle fibers. The different muscle disorders like stiffness, muscle cramps and spasms could also be associated with myopathy. There are many types of myopathies and hence, treatments differ with different myopathies. The treatments for myopathy could be those which target the specific cause or the ones which deal with symptoms only. Physical therapy, drug therapy, accupuncture, surgery and bracing for support are some of the treatments used for myopathy.

Laminopathy: It is a genetic disorder in which mutations occur in the genes that encode the proteins present in the nuclear lamina. Along with muscular dystrophy, symptoms like dysplasia, diabetes and lipodystrophy are exhibited by people suffering from laminopathy. The treatment for laminopathy is supportive and symptomatic. Those who are suffering from muscular dystrophy are treated with physical therapy.

Diastasis Recti: It is a disorder in which the rectus abdominis muscle which is normally joined by the lenea alba is separated into left and right halves. The disorder primarily occurs in pregnant women and newborn babies. The complications like the development of ventral hernia or umbilical cord are treated with surgeries. In case of adults, surgeries are required in extreme cases while physiotherapy can be used for disorders with lesser degree/intensities.

Zenker's Degeneration: Various infectious diseases like typhoid fever, toxaemia, etc. cause the degeneration of skeletal muscles; which is known as Zenker's degeneration. In this disorder, the muscles become friable and pale, lose their cross striations, might rupture and exhibit a hyaline appearance.

Pelvic Floor Muscle Disorder: In this disorder, the muscles which form the pelvic floor remain in a contracted/tightened position. The causes of the pelvic floor muscle disorder are not exactly known however, the possible reasons behind the tightening of muscles could be stress, trauma, etc. One might suffer from problems like frequent urination or pain in the pelvic region because of this disorder. The various treatments for the pelvic floor muscle disorder include physical therapy, muscle relaxation, biofeedback and medications like Tamsulosin.

Orofacial Myology Disorders: The orofacial myological disorders are a set of disorders that affect the muscles surrounding the face, jaw, lips and the mouth. There are different types of orofacial myological disorders such as atypical swallowing and chewing patterns, abnormal posture of the orofacial musculature while resting, blocked nasal airways, dental malocclusions, speech problems, etc. The various causes of the orofacial myological disorders could be the imbalance in dental growth, obstructions or constrictions in the upper airway, low body tone, low-lying tongue resting posture, inadequate cranial and facial bone development, inadequate neck and head muscle development, etc. The various treatments used for the orofacial myological disorders include the restoration of correct/proper swallowing patterns, re-education of the muscle movement and the establishment of adequate labial-lingual postures.You can also read more on:

• Disorders of the Skeletal System
• Skeletal System Diseases

The disorders of the muscular system are numerous due to the varied causes responsible for them. The above mentioned examples are just a snapshot of the different disorders of the muscular system.