Muscular System Diseases

12 Parts:

Muscular Dystrophy

Cerebral Palsy

Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva

Dermatomyositis

Compartment Syndrome

Myasthenia Gravis

Fibromyalgia

Rotator Cuff Tear

Muscle Cramps

Tendonitis

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The human body is an amazing thing, each containing anywhere from 640 to 850 muscles. Each muscle performs a different function, helping maintain a person's posture, generating body heat and making movements. There are three types of muscles in the human body, including skeletal, visceral and cardiac. Just like any other part of the body, muscles can develop a disease and weaken the overall health of a person. These diseases could be caused by many different conditions such as genetics, infections, and cancer, just to name a few. The diseases include muscle pain, weakness, and paralysis.

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   What It Is

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   Muscular Dystrophy is a group of muscle diseases that progressively weaken muscles, causing damage to the muscle fiber and ultimately causing loss of muscle mass. This occurs when abnormal genes disrupt the production of proteins needed to maintain healthy muscles.

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2. 2
   Common Diseases

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   There are several kinds of Muscular Dystrophy, including Duchenne, Myotonia, Becker, Limb Girdle, Oculopharyngeal etc. Some start when a person is just a child, specifically in males. Other types though, may not develop until adulthood.

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3. 3
   Symptoms

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   Symptoms of Muscular Dystrophy diseases could include weakness, eventual immobility, imbalance, difficulty breathing and/or swallowing.

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4. 4
   The Cure

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   There is currently no cure for Muscular Dystrophy diseases; however, there are medications available that can help manage the symptoms and slow the overall progression of the disease.

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1. 1
   What It Is

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   Cerebral Palsy, also known as CP, is a neurological disorder that is caused by a brain injury that occurs when a child's brain is developing which can happen before birth, during birth or after birth. In fact, only an estimated 10% of Cerebral Palsy cases occur due to birthing complications. Every case is specific to the individual with the disease.

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2. 2
   Symptoms

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   Cerebral Palsy caused by non-progressive brain damage causes impairment of motor functions and in some cases, its complete loss. It affects the movement of a person's body and coordination, muscle tone, and balance. Additionally, it can impact a person's ability to speak and cause slight tremors. The disease is non-progressive and not life threatening.

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3. 3
   The Cure

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   Unfortunately, Cerebral Palsy is permanent and incurable. On the other hand, there is treatment and therapy available that can help manage the effects the disease has on the human body.

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1. 1
   What It Is

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   Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva, also known as Stone Man Syndrome, is an extremely rare, genetic disorder that occurs when soft tissue permanently hardens. Bone then begins to grow between joints, ultimately inhibiting any movement.

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2. 2
   Symptoms

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   This disease is often misdiagnosed as cancer or fibrosis because it is so rare. Tumour-like lumps form, almost suddenly, eventually causing joints to lock, limited speech and decreased appetite. Breathing complications can also form. Often times, FOP can also become fatal. People suffering from this terrible disease typically live to the age of 40.

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3. 3
   The Cure

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   There is no cure for Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva, however similar to other muscular diseases, the pain caused by the disease is manageable through medication.

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1. 1
   What It is

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   Dermatomyositis is a rare inflammatory disease, affecting skin and muscle in a human's body. It is one of only three known inflammatory myopathies and affects people of all ages.

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2. 2
   Symptoms

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   Common symptoms of this muscular disease include difficulty swallowing, lung problems, weight loss and fever, skin rashes, inflamed muscles, weakness and muscle fatigue and inflammatory myopathy.

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3. 3
   The Cure

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   There is no cure for Dermatomyositis, however with prescription medication the symptoms are manageable, and progression of the disease can be controlled as well.

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1. 1
   What It Is

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   Compartment Syndrome is a painful condition where a significant amount of pressure builds in a person's blood vessels, muscles, and nerves, decreasing blood flow, preventing nourishment and cutting off oxygen from reaching muscles.

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2. 2
   Symptoms

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   People suffering from Compartment Syndrome can eventually become paralyzed if not treated immediately.

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3. 3
   The Cure

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   If treated right away, Compartment Syndrome can be relieved by surgery. Once the surgery has successfully been completed, the pressure on a person's muscles will be released.

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1. 1
   What It is

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   Myasthenia Gravis is a rare and chronic muscular disease that causes abnormal weakness in certain muscles. It is caused by a defect in the neuromuscular junction, and the delivery of nerve impulses to muscles. When this occurs, the brain no longer has control over muscles.

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2. 2
   Symptoms

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   The first noticeable symptom of Myasthenia Gravis is drooping eyelids, due to loss of muscles around the eyes. The disease can also cause problems breathing and swallowing, loss of facial muscle control, shortness of breath, blurred vision, weakness in limbs and impaired speech.

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3. 3
   The Cure

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   This muscular disease can be treated with medication or surgery.

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1. 1
   What It Is

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   Fibromyalgia is a genetic muscular disease that can be debilitating, causing pain and muscle stiffness and tenderness. The disease affects more women than it does men.

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2. 2
   Symptoms

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   Fibromyalgia doesn't always have one single trigger symptom, however, the disease can be associated with fatigue, memory loss and change in mood, and widespread pain which is often described as a dull ache that lasts about three months.

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3. 3
   The Cure

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   Similar to other muscular diseases, Fibromyalgia does not have a cure; however, there are a variety of medications that can help manage the disease and its symptoms. Relaxation and exercise can also help with the pain.

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1. 1
   What It Is

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   Unlike the other muscular diseases we've discussed, a Rotator Cuff Tear is quite common, especially among athletes. Rotator Cuff Tears can be partial or complete, going all the way through the tendon. It can even develop over time if a person repeatedly makes the same arm motion on a regular basis, such as a painter. It can also come as a result of an injury.

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2. 2
   Symptoms

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   Pain and reduced mobility are the two most dominant symptoms of a Rotator Cuff Tear.

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3. 3
   The Cure

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   A Rotator Cuff Tear can be repaired via surgery.

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1. 1
   What It Is

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   Muscle cramps, as many of us know, occur when a muscle tighten and contracts resulting in a strong pain that can last as little as a few seconds to as long as several minutes. They often occur in leg muscles and can happen suddenly and out of nowhere.

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2. 2
   Symptoms

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   Tightness in the muscle is the main symptom of muscle cramping.

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3. 3
   The Cure

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   Gentle massage can help temporarily relieve a muscle cramp. Different medications can also be prescribed for longer term issues.

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1. 1
   What It Is

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   Tendonitis occurs when a tendon becomes inflamed or irritated. It can occur in any tendon in a person's body, but it is most common in wrists, elbows, shoulders and heels.

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2. 2
   Symptoms

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   Tendonitis causes mild swelling and pain, as well as tenderness.

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3. 3
   The Cure

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   The muscular disease can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers or prescribed medication, relaxation and ice compression.

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APA (American Psychological Association)
Muscular System Diseases. (2017). In ScienceAid. Retrieved Sep 24, 2023, from https://scienceaid.net/Muscular_System_Diseases

MLA (Modern Language Association) "Muscular System Diseases." ScienceAid, scienceaid.net/Muscular_System_Diseases Accessed 24 Sep 2023.

Chicago / Turabian ScienceAid.net. "Muscular System Diseases." Accessed Sep 24, 2023. https://scienceaid.net/Muscular_System_Diseases.

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