Table 3.

Treatment of Manifestations in Individuals with Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy

Manifestation/
Concern		TreatmentConsiderations/Other
Weakness PT
  • Establish appropriate exercise regimens (e.g., moderate weight training, aerobic training).
  • Identify assistive devices that may ↑ mobility & ↓ risk of falls at home.
Ankle/foot orthosesTo improve mobility & prevent falls in those w/foot drop
OT & speech therapyIn persons w/infantile onset
Limited range
of motion 		Surgical fixation of scapula to chest wallOffered cautiously w/careful consideration of risk & benefit in context of person's symptoms
Pain PT; pain medication
  • NSAIDs for acute pain
  • Antidepressants or anti-seizure medication for chronic pain
Hypoventilation Ventilatory support (e.g., BiPAP)As necessary
Exposure
keratitis 		Ocular lubricantsIn severe cases taping the eyes shut during sleep may be required.
Exudative
retinopathy 		Treatment per ophthalmologistMay be prevented by early intervention w/laser treatment
Hearing loss Standard therapiesIncl amplification if necessary

OT = occupational therapy; PT = physical therapy

From: Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy

Cover of GeneReviews®
GeneReviews® [Internet].
Adam MP, Feldman J, Mirzaa GM, et al., editors.
Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2024.
Copyright © 1993-2024, University of Washington, Seattle. GeneReviews is a registered trademark of the University of Washington, Seattle. All rights reserved.

GeneReviews® chapters are owned by the University of Washington. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce, distribute, and translate copies of content materials for noncommercial research purposes only, provided that (i) credit for source (http://www.genereviews.org/) and copyright (© 1993-2024 University of Washington) are included with each copy; (ii) a link to the original material is provided whenever the material is published elsewhere on the Web; and (iii) reproducers, distributors, and/or translators comply with the GeneReviews® Copyright Notice and Usage Disclaimer. No further modifications are allowed. For clarity, excerpts of GeneReviews chapters for use in lab reports and clinic notes are a permitted use.

For more information, see the GeneReviews® Copyright Notice and Usage Disclaimer.

For questions regarding permissions or whether a specified use is allowed, contact: ude.wu@tssamda.

NCBI Bookshelf. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.