Neuromuscular disorders affect voluntary muscle movement, such as the limbs, which a person has conscious control over. The disorders damage or destroy the nerves responsible for transporting the message from the brain to the muscles. Muscles require stimulation and use to remain strong, and over time the disorders cause the impacted muscles to deteriorate and die leading to motility problems.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a disorder that affects the brain and the spinal cord by damaging the myelin sheath that shields the nerve cells and help with the transmission of nerve impulses. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder that affects the myelin sheath around the nerves of the brain and spinal cord. The myelin sheath acts as an insulator around nerve cells, speeding up the transmission of nerve impulses. Without myelin, the communication between the brain and the body slows down or is lost all together. Common symptoms of MS include muscle weakness and spasms, lack of coordination, and visual disturbance, according to the Cleveland Clinic. There is no cure for multiple sclerosis, but therapies may help control symptoms of the disorder. In mild cases, medication may help lessen the symptoms or slow the progression of the disease. Physical therapy is helpful in maintaining muscle stimulation and strength.
Muscular Dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder that weakens the muscles of the body over time, often replacing muscle with fat and connective tissue. It is caused by the body's inability to produce a key protein known as dystrophin needed to rebuild and maintain healthy muscle tissue. Symptoms vary from mild to severely debilitating and may appear gradually during childhood, such as difficulties in standing up or going up stairs. Children often exhibit large calves due to fatty tissue buildup, according to MedlinePlus. As the disease progresses, movement becomes increasingly more difficult eventually losing the ability to walk. There is no known cure for muscular dystrophy, but physical therapy and orthopedic devices may help a person deal with the loss in muscle function.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a serious disease affecting the nerves of the nervous system. Over time it causes these nerves to shrink and even disappear, leaving scar tissue in place of healthy neurons. Initially, common symptoms include trouble walking and running and progresses to difficulties with speech. Eventually, as the condition worsens, all muscle function is lost, resulting in paralysis and respiratory difficulties. The majority of individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis will die of respiratory failure, according to MedlinePlus. There is no cure, but often medicine can relieve the symptoms and in turn allow an individual to live a longer and with a less debilitating life.
