Muscle weakness, paralysis, a decrease in muscle mass and often also muscle pain are typical symptoms that can indicate a disease of the muscles. Occasionally, in addition to the muscles of the musculoskeletal system (skeletal muscles), the muscles of the heart or other internal organs are also affected. In other cases, however, it is not the muscles themselves that are affected, but the transmission of signals from the nerves to the muscles which can be restricted, as in myasthenia gravis, for example. In summary, this is referred to as neuromuscular disorders.
Overall, muscular diseases are common, but each individual disease is relatively rare. For this reason, the diagnosis and treatment of muscle diseases require special experience, which can only be guaranteed by close interdisciplinary cooperation between different departments. In addition to neurology, important specialist areas are neuropathology, rheumatology, immunology, cardiology and dermatology.
For the therapy of muscle diseases it is crucial to test for treatable causes. These include inflammation caused by primarily immunological processes and pathogens, certain metabolic diseases or the identification of possible pollutants. These can be drugs that attack the muscles. It is not possible to cure every muscle disease by eliminating the cause; in these cases the treatment of symptoms with physiotherapy is the main focus.
We offer patients affected comprehensive diagnostics, advice and treatment. The diagnostic repertoire includes special clinical examination procedures, electrophysiological examinations, imaging procedures (MRI), laboratory tests and, if necessary, muscle biopsy for detailed examination by the pathologist.