Neuromuscular system and diseases

The neuromuscular system includes all the muscles in your body and the nerves connecting them.

Every time your body moves, your brain and muscles need to talk to each other. The nervous system links your thoughts to actions. It does this by sending electrical messages from your brain to other parts of your body.

Nerves and muscles work together in the neuromuscular system to help your body move and control important functions like breathing.

Nerves are cells called neurons. Neurons carry messages to and from your brain through the spinal cord to your muscles.

Outgoing messages travel from your brain along the motor pathways to activate your muscles. These pathways are made up of motor neurons.

Incoming messages from your senses (like sight and smell) travel to your spinal cord and brain along the sensory pathways. These are called sensory neurons.

The ending of each motor neuron sits very close to a muscle fibre. Where they meet is called a neuromuscular junction. The motor neurons release a chemical, which is picked up by the muscle fibre. This tells the muscle fibre to contract, which makes your muscles move.

Diseases that affect the neuromuscular system are known as neuromuscular diseases.

Some types of neuromuscular diseases are:

• Myopathies — genetic conditions that affect muscles that control movement, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.
• Motor neuron diseases — affect motor neurons and cause progressive muscle weakness, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and progressive bulbar palsy.
• Peripheral neuropathies — affect the sensory and motor nerves in the outer parts of your body, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth
• Neuromuscular junction diseases — conditions where messages from nerves to muscles are blocked at the neuromuscular junction, such as myasthenia gravis.

Some neuromuscular diseases are congenital, meaning symptoms appear at birth or in babies.

Some congenital myopathies include:

• nemaline myopathy
• central core myopathy
• myotubular myopathy

Some congenital muscular dystrophies include:

• Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy
• muscle-eye-brain disease
• Walker-Warburg syndrome

Symptoms of neuromuscular disease vary depending on which nerves and muscles are affected and the type of disease.

You may have problems with:

• tiredness
• weakness
• muscle pain
• muscle wasting
• spasms

In severe cases, neuromuscular diseases can lead to problems with:

• swallowing
• speaking
• breathing

In some neuromuscular diseases, damaged nerves do not carry messages from the brain as they should. In others, the muscles are damaged. This means they either can't get messages from motor neurons, or they can't respond normally.

If you are concerned or have any unusual symptoms speak with your doctor.

See your doctor if you notice any new:

• muscle weakness
• spasms
• twitching
• pain

If your child has these symptoms, speak with their doctor, paediatrician or early child health nurse (Opens in new tab).

Treatments usually try to reduce symptoms and improve the quality of life for people with neuromuscular diseases. In many cases there is no cure.

Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent neuromuscular disorders. There are many of genetic changes that can cause neuromuscular disorders.

Read more on neuromuscular disorders here:

• The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne (Opens in new tab) has information on a range of neuromuscular disorders.
• MS Australia (Opens in new tab) has resources for people with multiple sclerosis, including information on treatment and wellbeing.
• MND Australia (Opens in new tab) has information on motor neurone disease for people living with the condition and their families.
• Visit the Australian and regional muscular dystrophy societies to learn more about services, social programs and NDIS support available:
  • Muscular Dystrophy Australia (Opens in new tab) — (03) 9320 9555 (Monday to -Thursday, 9am to 5pm)
  • Muscular Dystrophy Foundation Australia (Opens in new tab) offers advice and access to health and wellbeing resources.
  • Muscular Dystrophy NSW (Opens in new tab) call 1800 635 109
  • Muscular Dystrophy Queensland (Opens in new tab) call 1800 676 364
  • Neuromuscular WA (Opens in new tab) call 08 9380 3400
  • Capital Region Muscular Dystrophy (Opens in new tab) call 0429 382502
  • Muscular Dystrophy Tasmania (Opens in new tab) call 0400 877 137
• AUSNMD (Opens in new tab) is a clinical trial finder for neuromuscular disorders.
• Murdoch Children's Research Institute (Opens in new tab) has a Centre of Research Excellence in neuromuscular disorders, where there are many neuromuscular experts.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.