Lihasheikkous

Lihasheikkous is a general symptom defined as reduced muscle strength in one or more muscle groups, limiting the ability to perform everyday tasks. The weakness is often proximal, affecting muscles of the hips, pelvis, shoulders, or thighs, and may be symmetric or focal. It can present suddenly or develop gradually, and may be constant or fluctuate over time depending on the underlying condition.

Causes fall into several broad categories. Primary muscle diseases (myopathies) include hereditary conditions such as muscular dystrophies and inflammatory myopathies. Nerve or neuromuscular junction disorders include neuropathies and diseases like myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome. Systemic or metabolic and endocrine disorders (eg, hypothyroidism, electrolyte disturbances, kidney or liver disease) and medications or toxins (such as statins or prolonged corticosteroid use) can also produce lihasheikkous. Age-related sarcopenia—loss of muscle mass with aging—contributes to weakness in older adults.

Clinical features vary by cause but commonly include progressive difficulty with activities requiring proximal strength (standing from a seated position, climbing stairs, lifting objects) and fatigue that worsens with use. Some conditions may cause fluctuating weakness, eye or facial muscle involvement, or muscle pain and cramps. Serum creatine kinase and other tests help distinguish muscle from nerve or systemic causes.

Diagnosis relies on clinical assessment and targeted investigations, including blood tests (CK, thyroid function), autoimmune or antibody tests when indicated, electrophysiology (EMG/NCS), imaging, and sometimes muscle biopsy or genetic testing.

Treatment is cause-specific and may involve physical therapy, management of systemic conditions, review of medications, and disease-specific therapies (eg, immunosuppression for inflammatory myopathies, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors for myasthenia gravis, or enzyme replacement for metabolic myopathies). Prognosis varies with underlying etiology.