Question
What are the test results for the main symptoms, including unsteady gait, tendency to fall, and weakness in the legs when climbing stairs?
Answer
Hello, the symptoms of unsteady gait, tendency to fall, and weakness in the legs when climbing stairs indicate a diagnosis of progressive muscle atrophy. This is a genetic disease controlled by recessive disease-causing genes on the X chromosome, characterized by progressive skeletal muscle atrophy and gradual decline in muscle strength, ultimately leading to complete loss of mobility. It primarily affects boys, while females may be carriers of the genetic gene and often have a significant family history. Affected children experience difficulty walking due to muscle atrophy and weakness, with bilateral gastrocnemius muscles appearing pseudohypertrophic in the later stages of the disease. Children usually develop symptoms between 4 and 5 years old, with the latest onset not exceeding 7 years. They sit, stand, and walk later than average children, and problems are typically discovered only after they learn to walk. Children walk slowly, with an unsteady gait, swaying from side to side, resembling a “duck walk.” They are prone to falls and have difficulty climbing stairs; it’s hard for them to stand up quickly after squatting down; after the age of 3 to 5, the muscles in the chest, shoulders, and buttocks gradually become thin and loose, while muscles such as the deltoid and gastrocnemius become increasingly thick and hard, losing elasticity. In terms of treatment, there is currently no specific treatment protocol available. Supportive treatment is generally employed, including avoiding long-term bed rest, increasing nutrition, preventing infections, physical therapy, and