Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Tibialmuscular dystrophyis a form of muscular dystrophy, a group of chronic, progressive conditions that cause weakness and muscle mass. It is a rare disorder that affects adults. Symptoms usually begin around age 35 and progress slowly.
Tibial muscular dystrophy causes gradual and progressive weakness of theanterior tibialis musclein the front of your lower leg. This leads to difficulty walking.
This article provides an overview of tibial muscular dystrophy, including how it is diagnosed and what treatment options are available.
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Symptoms of Tibial Muscular Dystrophy
Tibial muscular dystrophy affects the ankle and shinbone (tibia). The initial symptoms of tibial muscular dystrophy are weakness in the front of your lower leg (the shin) and difficulty lifting your ankle up from the ground.
Foot drop is a common symptom of tibial muscular dystrophy. Foot drop occurs when a person has difficulty picking up their foot to walk due to weakness. This can lead to tripping or falling.
There are a few different types of mutations of the TTN gene. The FINmaj mutation causes tibial muscular dystrophy in people of Finnish descent. Other less common mutations cause the disease in other populations. It is not fully understood why the TTN gene mutations cause weakness only in the lower shin musculature.
It is important to see your healthcare provider if you start to notice symptoms of tibial muscular dystrophy such as ankle weakness or foot drop.
Your provider will likely order several diagnostic tests, including:
Other conditions, such aslumbar sciaticaormultiple sclerosis, may cause similar symptoms, so your healthcare provider will need to explore other possible causes.
There is no known cure for tibial muscular dystrophy. The goal of treatment is to maintain the muscular function of the ankle and leg. Treatment may include:
9 Best Tibialis Anterior Exercises to Improve Drop Foot
There is no known cure for tibial muscular dystrophy. It is a progressive disease, but it can be well-managed with treatment.
Many people with tibial muscular dystrophy will experience some difficulty with walking, but most will be able to retain normal ambulation throughout their life. For a small percentage of people, walking may become difficult or impossible.
Summary
A Word From Verywell
Being diagnosed with a progressive disease can feel overwhelming and even frightening. It may be helpful to remember that many people with tibial muscular dystrophy are able to continue walking with the help of an orthotic device. If you notice your condition worsening, talk with your healthcare provider.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Muscular Dystrophy Association.Tibial muscular dystrophy.Udd B, Hackman P.Udd distal myopathy – Tibial muscular dystrophy. In: Adam MP, Everman DB, Mirzaa GM, et al., eds.GeneReviews®. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; February 17, 2005.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Distal myopathy.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Muscular Dystrophy Association.Tibial muscular dystrophy.Udd B, Hackman P.Udd distal myopathy – Tibial muscular dystrophy. In: Adam MP, Everman DB, Mirzaa GM, et al., eds.GeneReviews®. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; February 17, 2005.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Distal myopathy.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Muscular Dystrophy Association.Tibial muscular dystrophy.Udd B, Hackman P.Udd distal myopathy – Tibial muscular dystrophy. In: Adam MP, Everman DB, Mirzaa GM, et al., eds.GeneReviews®. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; February 17, 2005.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Distal myopathy.
Muscular Dystrophy Association.Tibial muscular dystrophy.
Udd B, Hackman P.Udd distal myopathy – Tibial muscular dystrophy. In: Adam MP, Everman DB, Mirzaa GM, et al., eds.GeneReviews®. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; February 17, 2005.
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Distal myopathy.
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