Facio-Scapular-Humeral Muscular Dystrophy

Question:

I was just wondering if you have any information reguarding facio scapular humeral dystrophy?

Answer:

Let me start by saying that a highly qualified physical therapist should be consulted directly on this matter - as well as your client’s physician.

Facio-Scapular-Humeral Muscular Dystrophy is a more common form of MD in adults and affects both genders equally. Symptoms related to Facio-Scapular-Humeral Muscular Dystrophy generally do not appear until adolescence and are generally not recognized until adulthood. Characteristics of this condition include:

• Progressive weakness of the shoulder muscles
• Progressive weakness of the muscles of the face
• Hip and thigh muscles affected less often

The prognosis for this condition is that the disease will progress slowly and may arrest itself at any stage. The life span for individuals with this condition is considered to be normal.

Stretching and strengthening of the affected muscles is key to fight this disease. I would start by performing a through assessment of this client. Measure her spinal curvatures, 1st rib angle and scapular position as well as length tension relationships of the scapular thoracic musculature. This is all on top of a normal assessment. If you need help with these tests, get the book Muscles Testing and Function by Kendall and Kendall as well as Orthopedic Physical Assessment by Magee.

Personally, I would also look into your client’s diet. I have found that many of the symptoms of MS, MD and other neurological/muscular problems have a root in food additives or environmental conditions (lead paint, heavy metals in the water).

Ask her these questions:

• Has she used any products with aspartame (NutraSweet) or any other artificial sweetener, for prolonged periods of time?
• Does she eat a lot of boxed or canned food?
• Does she live in an old house?
• Does she live near any chemical factories or farms?

If she answers yes to the nutritional questions, have her switch to a diet that does not include any preservatives, sweeteners or food colors. Also have her eat organic meat and produce. The other thing I would strongly recommend is giving her the "metabolic typing test." See my PTontheNET.com article series Truth in Nutrition Part 1 and Part 2 for more information on this.

If she answers yes to any of the environmental questions, have her doctor look into possible lead and/or heavy metal poisoning.