title: The Change of Grip Strength in a Patient with Congenital Myotonic Dystrophy Over a 4-year Period.
abstract: Myotonic dystrophy (MyD) is a neuromuscular disease that is autosomal dominant and the most common form of muscular dystrophy affecting adults. The clinical features of MyD include a multisystemic disorder characterized by myotonia, progressive muscle weakness and wasting, cataracts, premature balding and mental retardation. The most severe type of MyD is classified as congenital MyD (CMyD). The muscle weakness in CMyD is very severe, but muscle development can be observed in the period of growth. However, no clinical case of this type has been reported yet. Therefore, we report on a girl with CMyD who had an increase in muscle strength over a four-year period. The girl with CMyD participated in this study from the age of 9 to the age of 12. The measurement of muscle strength was recorded as the maximum score of grip strength with the use of dynamometers. Grip strength was assessed once a year by the same two physical therapists. Grip strength of CMyD for each year was markedly weak when compared with the normal controls, but muscle strength changed within some specific growth areas. The muscle weakness in CMyD was remarkable, but the result showed that specific muscle strength of CMyD in childhood was actually increased.
authors: Department of Anatomy 1, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, South 1, West 17, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
authors: Shin
authors: S
authors: Kikuchi
authors: School of Health Sciences, Sapporo Medical University, South 1, West 17, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
authors: Naoki
authors: N
authors: Kozuka
authors: Department of Human Science, Faculty of Human Studies, Taisho University, 3-20-1 Nishisugamo, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-847, Japan.
authors: Eiji
authors: E
authors: Uchida
authors: Department of Anatomy 1, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, South 1, West 17, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
authors: Takafumi
authors: T
authors: Ninomiya
authors: Department of Anatomy 1, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, South 1, West 17, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
authors: Haruyuki
authors: H
authors: Tatsumi
authors: School of Health Sciences, Sapporo Medical University, South 1, West 17, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
authors: Hidekatsu
authors: H
authors: Takeda
authors: School of Health Sciences, Sapporo Medical University, South 1, West 17, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
authors: Nobutada
authors: N
authors: Tachi
keywords: congenital myotonic dystrophy; development; grip strength