Neuromuscular Disorders

Summary

Neuromuscular disorders affect your neuromuscular system. They can cause problems with:

• The nerves that control your muscles
• Your muscles
• Communication between your nerves and muscles

These disorders can cause your muscles to become weak and waste away. You may also have symptoms such as spasms, twitching, and pain.

Examples of neuromuscular disorders include:

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Muscular dystrophy
• Myasthenia gravis
• Spinal muscular atrophy

There can be different causes for these diseases. Many of them are genetic.This means they are inherited (run in families) or are caused by a new mutation in your genes. Some neuromuscular disorders are autoimmune diseases. Sometimes the cause is unknown.

Many neuromuscular diseases have no cure. But treatments may improve symptoms, increase mobility, and lengthen life.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Patient Handouts

• Apraxia Medical Encyclopedia
• Hand or foot spasms Medical Encyclopedia
• Muscle atrophy Medical Encyclopedia
• Muscle function loss Medical Encyclopedia
• Muscle twitching Medical Encyclopedia
• Myotonia congenita Medical Encyclopedia
• Spasticity Medical Encyclopedia

Specifics

• Apraxia National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Congenital Myasthenia National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Congenital Myopathy National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Hypertonia National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Isaacs Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Kearns-Sayre Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Mitochondrial Myopathies National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Monomelic Amyotrophy National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Motor Neuron Diseases National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Myotonia National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Myotonia Congenita National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Opsoclonus Myoclonus National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Piriformis Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Primary Lateral Sclerosis National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Spasticity National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Stiff-Person Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Thyrotoxic Myopathy National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Troyer Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• What Is Mitochondrial Disease Muscular Dystrophy Association

Genetics

• Ataxia with vitamin E deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Christianson syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Congenital myasthenic syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Distal hereditary motor neuropathy, type II: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Genetics and Neuromuscular Disease Muscular Dystrophy Association
• Infantile-onset ascending hereditary spastic paralysis: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Multiple pterygium syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Schwartz-Jampel syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Silver syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Spastic paraplegia type 11: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Spastic paraplegia type 15: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Spastic paraplegia type 2: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Spastic paraplegia type 31: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Spastic paraplegia type 49: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Spastic paraplegia type 4: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Spastic paraplegia type 5A: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Spastic paraplegia type 7: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Spastic paraplegia type 8: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Troyer syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Muscle Spasticity National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Neuromuscular Diseases National Institutes of Health

Related Issues

• Dressing with Ease, Style, and Comfort ALS Association
• Preparing for Emergencies: A Checklist for People with Neuromuscular Diseases Muscular Dystrophy Association

Diagnosis and Tests

• Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies National Library of Medicine

Living With

• Exercising with a Muscle Disease Muscular Dystrophy Association

Start Here

• Find a Neuromuscular Disease Muscular Dystrophy Association

Encyclopedia

• Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
• Nerve conduction Medical Encyclopedia

Find an Expert

• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Women

• Pregnancy and Childbirth with Neuromuscular Disease Muscular Dystrophy Association

Journal Articles

• Neuromuscular Disorders