Myotonic dystrophy is a genetic disease also known as Steinert’s disease, characterized by the difficulty of relaxing muscles after contraction, some people with this disease have difficulty releasing a mango or breaking a handshake, for example.
Myotonic dystrophy can occur in both sexes, being more common in young adults.The most affected muscles are those of the face, neck, hands, feet and forearms.
- In some individuals.
- It can manifest severely.
- Compromise muscle function and have a life expectancy of only 50 years.
- While in others it may manifest slightly.
- Which only shows muscle weakness.
Myotonic dystrophy is divided into 4 types
The causes of myotonic dystrophy are related to genetic changes in chromosome 19, which can increase from generation to generation, leading to the most severe manifestation of the disease.
The main symptoms of myotonic dystrophy are:
Depending on the severity of the disease, stiffness caused by chromosomal changes can compromise several muscles, resulting in the death of the individual before age 50.People with the most benign form of this disease only have muscle weakness.
Diagnosis is made by observing symptoms and genetic tests, which detect changes in chromosomes.
Symptoms can be alleviated with the use of medications such as phenytoin, quinine and nifedipine, which reduce muscle stiffness and pain caused by myotonic dystrophy.
Another way to promote the quality of life of these people is physical therapy, which offers a better range of motion, muscle strength and body control.
Treatment for myotonic dystrophy is multimodal, including medications and physiotherapy, including phenytoin, quinine, procanamide or nifedipine, which relieve muscle stiffness and pain caused by the disease.
Physical therapy aims to improve the quality of life of patients with myotonic dystrophy by increasing muscle strength, range of motion and coordination.