Causes and symptoms of atrophy of the leg muscles, thigh and lower leg

Due to pathological changes in the human body skeletal muscle begins to thin, deformed, and then its replacement by connective tissue, incapable of reduction, that is there is muscle atrophy. As a result of reduced motor ability of the affected muscle, and if significant degeneration there is a complete paralysis, the patient loses the ability to move independently.

The causes of atrophy of the leg muscles, thigh and lower leg

The reasons for the development of muscle atrophy of the lower extremities may be several:

- reduction of metabolism and aging with age;

as a result of diseases of the endocrine system and hormonal failure in the body;

- chronic diseases of the digestive tract, connective tissue;

- impaired regulation of muscle tone in lesions of peripheral nerves, polyneuritis, as a manifestation of complication of certain infectious and parasitic diseases, chronic poisonings;

bad heredity – congenital enzyme defect or a genetic disorder;

defective, inadequate nutrition;

- how post-traumatic complications or constant physical exertion.

Diseases related to muscle atrophy, as a rule, belong to a rare congenital genetic diseases that manifest already in childhood.

The symptoms of atrophy of the leg muscles, thigh and lower leg

Pseudohypertrophic form Duchenne is the most common forms of muscular dystrophy, sex-linked. The disease occurs only in boys. Early symptoms of pathology appear in the first five years of a child's life. Typical symptoms include atrophy of the leg muscles and muscles of the pelvic girdle. Before developing pseudohypertrophy, especially in the area of calf muscles, less commonly affects the deltoid muscle. Appear also limit muscle atrophy, retraction of the tendons, mostly of the Achilles, lost reflexes, the most noticeable when checking the knee reflexes. Child labour climbs up a staircase when walking with hands on hips, can't jump, it would be hard to rise from the floor. Gradually develops weakness, atrophy of muscles of the shoulder girdle, and some time later, the child can not get out of bed. Among the later manifestations of the disease are the appearance of contractures, the cause of which is the retraction of the tendons, forming "horse" feet.

As a rule, children with congenital genetic disease do not live to the age of 14.

Pathology is also accompanied by changes in the heart muscle, affects the brain, the child lags behind in development. Weakness of the respiratory muscles becomes the cause of poor ventilation, which contributes to the development of pneumonia. For pneumonia complicated by weakness of the heart muscle that is the most common cause of death in patients. Form for Duchenne typical pleiotropic effect of the abnormal gene.

In the mid-twentieth century, Becker was described benign variant of muscular dystrophy, sex-linked, this form of the disease that bears his name. The first symptoms of pathology appear after 20 years. At the initial stage noticeable pseudohypertrophy calf muscles. Atrophy of the leg muscles develops slowly, gradually covering the muscles of the pelvic girdle and thighs. Intelligence in this form remains. These varieties of the disease are characterized by lesions in different genes, located in two loci of sexual X-chromosome, being hanakapiai. In one family, from two forms of the disease do not occur.

Diagnosis of atrophy of the leg muscles, thigh and lower leg

In order to diagnose muscle atrophy it is necessary to collect a thorough history, including and learn about the hereditary and chronic diseases. Assigned full blood count with the mandatory definition of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, glucose, liver function tests. Mandatory electromyography and sometimes a biopsy of the nerve cells and a nerve conduction study. If you have a history of chronic or infectious diseases, according to the testimony of an additional examination.

Treatment of atrophy of the leg muscles, thigh and lower leg

When choosing treatment focus on the reasons because of which developed the disease. Take into account the age of the patient, the prevalence and severity of the pathological process. Drug treatment courses that can suspend the process and even leads to some improvements. The important role played by the appointment of physiotherapeutic treatment, therapeutic massage, electrotherapy, therapeutic gymnastics. Also in the treatment of muscle atrophy often the practice of blood transfusion. Compliance with all recommendations allows patients to lead almost normal lives for a long time.