Neuromuscular conditions Flashcards
disorder of the motor neuron-anterior (ventral) horn cell
Motor neuron disease (LMN)
disorder of the peripheral nerve (ventral and dorsal)
Radiculopathy [one nerve affected from spine downwards]
Neuropathy [usually many nerves affected but more towards hands and feet]
disorder of the neuromuscular junction/motor end plate
where nerves meet muscles
disorder of the muscle
myopathy
Neuropathy vs. Myopathy
Neuropathy: -soma/axons involved -distal involvement (symm. > asymm) -stocking-glove pattern -longest nerves affected 1st (LE before UE) Myopathy -MEP/mm involvement -proximal involvement (symm) -difficulty arising -overhead activities
LMN vs. UMN
LMN: -flaccid or reduced stiffness -decreased tone -decreased muscle stretch reflexes -profound muscle atrophy -fasciculations seen or twitches - +/- sensory disturbances UMN: -spasticity or very stiff -increased tone -increased muscles stretch reflexes -minimal muscle atrophy -fasciculations absent - +/- sensory disturbances
Motor neuron conditions (LMN-Anterior horn cell)
Spinal muscular atrophy (progressive)
post-polio syndrome (slowly progressive after recovery from polio)
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Peripheral nerve conditions
Gullian-Barre (initial worsening with recovery)
Charcot Marie Tooth (initial worsening with limited recovery)
Motor end plate conditions
Myasthenia Gravis (exacerbations result in wekaness in the face, neck and hands)
muscle conditions
Muscular dystrophy (progressive)
Components of medical diagnosis
medical and family hx physical exam electrodiagnostic testing: EMG, NCV Blood labs genetic testing muscle biopsy
Components of movement system diagnosis
PIP movement observation hypothesize impairments -weakness (symm/asymm) -hypo/hypertonia -muscle flexibility -bulbar function -pain -fatigue
Keys to prognosis to inform intervention strategies
Long-term and short-term goals
Expected natural progression of condition
-onset period/age
-progression rate
-recovery potential
contextual factors that would contribute to the achievement of the goal
contextual factors that may prevent or delay the acquisition of the goal
likely time frame for achieving the goal [PROGNOSIS]
interventions for optimizing function
education encourage activities and participation strengthening (moderate intensity) aerobic training (moderate intensity) flexibility
interventions for adaption to limitation
prevent overuse
prevent respiratory dysfunction (breathing techniques/coughing)
prescribe assistive technology (orthotics, AD, w/c) to support participation
interventions for maximizing quality of life
addressing respiratory dysfunction (postural drainage and assistive coughing)
positioning
supporting and training the caregiver
Spinal muscular atrophy
- genetic disorder: 5q gene deletion
- premature death of alpha motor neurons in spinal cord and brainstem (CN V, VII, IX, XII)
- premature death of alpha-motor neurons –> weakness & wasting of voluntary muscles (more sever in legs vs arms)
- classified according to type I-IV
Type I spinal muscular atrophy
- acute infantile (Werdnig-Hoffman)
- onset birth-6 mos
- progression : rapid
- movement system: never sits, poor head control/suck/swallow/cry
- prognosis: usually fatal within 2 years
Type II spinal muscular atrophy
- chronic infantile (Dubowitz Disease)
- onset: 6 mo - 18 mo
- progression: slower
- movement system: delayed motor milestones; able to sit but not stand or walk
- prognosis: variable
Type III spinal muscular atrophy
- chronic juvenile (Kugelberg-Welander)
- onset: after 18 mo
- progression: slower
- movement system: most can stand and walk, but have trouble going up/down stairs; may lose ability to walk later; in w/c- develop scoliosis; bulbar dysfunction later in life
- prognosis: typical life expectancy
Type IV spinal muscular atrophy
- adult
- onset in 30s
- lose ability to walk
- typical life expectancy
Tools for medical diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy
genetic testing (5q) EMG (reduced amplitude, fibrillations) muscle biopsy (muscle fiber atrophy)
common impairments associated with spinal muscular atrophy
several proximal muscles weakness
flaccidity or hypotonicity
bulbar dysfunction (difficulty swallowing and breathing) in more severe cases, as in type I or in later disease progression of type II or III
Common PT diagnoses for spinal muscular atrophy
- difficulty rolling secondary to weakness in SCM, pec major, AO, and RF
- difficulty sitting secondary to weakness of paraspinals (including cervical), and abdominals
- difficulty reaching secondary to weakness in deltoid and triceps
- difficulty lying prone secondary to poor flexibility in iliopsoas and hamstrings
- difficulty transitioning to standing secondary to poor strength in glute max and quadriceps
intervention guidelines for spinal muscular atrophy
- strength training of proximal muscle groups: shoulder flexors/extensors, elbow flexors/extensors, hip flexors, extensors, and knee extensors
- 2 sets of 15 reps for each muscle group with 5 minute rest between sets
- initial intensity should emphasize biomechanics using body weight as resistance and progressed by adding light resistance
- monitor with RPE; goal under “somewhat hard” to “hard”
Post-polio syndrome
- onset is adulthood (35 yrs)
- late manifestation of acute poliomyelitis
- degeneration of large motor neuron pools
- slowly progressive new muscle weakness in previously affected areas
- asymmetrical distribution
- distal or proximal or patchy