Back Muscle Atrophy

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Back muscle atrophy

Back muscle atrophy (spinal muscular atrophy) is considered a hereditary disorder resulting in gradual death of nerve cells in the spinal cord and brainstem, which leads to the development and progression of muscle weakness and atrophy itself. Secondary atrophy of the back muscles develops, as a rule, after injuries, as a result of various somatic diseases, in the postoperative period, with prolonged forced immobilization of the patient.

Causes of back muscle atrophy

The nerve cells responsible for the back muscles are located in the spinal cord. With their gradual death as a result of genetic pathology, muscles suffer. Without receiving signals from these nerve cells, and being inactive, muscle tissue begins to thin, deform and atrophy.

The disease is inherited in a recessive manner. If each of the parents has a gene in their chromosomes that blocks a protein in the spinal cord that is necessary for the existence of motor nerve cells, then the child develops a protein deficiency and the motor neurons slowly die, leading to atrophy.

The clinical picture of the disease manifests itself with varying intensity depending on the type or form of atrophy of the back muscles. There can be three of them: acute, intermediate and chronic.

Back muscle atrophy symptoms

The earliest manifestations of spinal muscular atrophy begin during the first 2-4 months of a child's life. Children have muscle weakness, characteristic of acute spinal muscle atrophy. This form of the disease is characterized by rapid progression, accompanied by disorders of breathing, posture (kyphoscoliosis), and motor function.

Sensitivity is fully preserved, intellectual and mental development in such children usually corresponds to age. According to statistics, most do not live to be four years old, and those who survived become disabled.

Intermediate muscle atrophy in children in the first two years of life is almost asymptomatic. After two years, clinical manifestations begin in the form of developing weakness, especially in the legs. Pathology from the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, cranial nerves, as a rule, is not observed. This form is characterized by slow development and distribution.

A slowly progressive chronic form of spinal muscular atrophy develops between the ages of 2 and 17 years. The disease begins in the legs and then spreads to the hands.

This is the most benign form of the disease, due to the fact that the pathological process develops slowly, patients live much longer than with other forms of back muscle atrophy.

If parents notice certain difficulties associated with swallowing or sucking in a baby, breathing problems, or the child lags behind peers in psychomotor development, you should consult a specialist doctor. The reason for the consultation is also an increase in muscle tissue weakness in an older child and the inability to stand on his own. If a patient with spinal muscular dystrophy suddenly has shortness of breath, cyanosis, it is recommended to immediately call an ambulance.

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Atrophy of the back muscles can also develop due to prolonged immobility of the patient as a result of various somatic diseases, such as post-traumatic complications in the postoperative period.

Diagnosis and treatment of back muscle atrophy

It is possible to assume the development of this rather rare disease in a child in the presence of clinical symptoms, when unexplained muscle weakness develops and, as a result, atrophy. In making the diagnosis, family history is of great importance, since the disease is hereditary. Myography is also used for confirmation. Thanks to modern diagnostic methods, it is possible to examine cells from the amniotic fluid during pregnancy to detect some of these diseases, this is especially important in case of burdened heredity.

Back muscle atrophy is treated only symptomatically; there is no specific treatment. The therapy is based on the treatment of the underlying disease; drugs that improve metabolism are often prescribed. Physiotherapy and various orthopedic devices are used as auxiliary and supportive methods.

Physiotherapy exercises are used to improve the functional ability of muscles and increase their mass under the influence of a strictly calculated load, in addition, there is a beneficial effect and general strengthening effect on the body of physical exercises. Physiotherapy exercises are prescribed in the form of remedial gymnastics, morning hygienic exercises, exercises in water, massages.

Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist

Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".