Neuro-Muscular Diseases

Neuromuscular disabilities are those which affect the muscular and nervous system, causing disturbances in the coordination of limbs, muscular weakness, loss of control over muscles, limited activity, etc. Loss of muscular function and muscular control may lead to spasms and involuntary fits of twitches and stiffening of the muscles.

There are many neuro-muscular diseases about which there is greater confusion and misunderstanding than the triumvirate of progressive muscular dystrophy, progressive muscular atrophy, and arthrogryposis. For example, there is widespread belief that progressive muscular dystrophy is almost universally a rapidly progressive and fatal condition. Likewise, it is commonly believed that one of the varieties of progressive muscular atrophy –amyotonia congenita-is a temporary condition from which the infant or the child gradually recovers. On the other hand, there are those who believe that there is no such clinical condition as amyotonia congenita, and that the disease represents an example of the earlier described progressive muscular atrophy of Werdnig-Hoffmann, which has a dismal prognosis. With respect to arthrogryposis, it is not clearly established whether this condition is a congenital disease of the connective tissue, the muscles, or the nervous system.