In medicine, a myopathy is a muscular disease in which the muscle fibers do not function for any one of many reasons, resulting in muscular weakness. "Myopathy" simply means muscle disease.
This meaning implies that the primary defect is within the muscle, as opposed to the nerves ("neuropathies" or "neurogenic" disorders) or elsewhere (e.g., the brain etc.).
Muscle cramps, stiffness, and spasm can also be associated with myopathy.
Muscular disease can be classified as neuromuscular or musculoskeletal in nature.
Some conditions, such as myositis, can be considered both neuromuscular and musculoskeletal.
Because different types of myopathies are caused by many different
pathways, there is no single treatment for myopathy. Treatments range
from treatment of the symptoms to very specific cause-targeting
treatments.
Drug therapy, physical therapy, bracing for support,
surgery, and even acupuncture are current treatments for a variety of
myopathies.
Further Reading
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"Myopathy"
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