Shoulder girdle muscle weakness
The shoulder, or pectoral, girdle is composed of the clavicles and the scapulae. Shoulder-girdle weakness refers to lack of strength of the muscles attaching to these bones, that is, lack of strength of the muscles around the shoulders.
Also called: Muscle weakness, shoulder-girdle, Shoulder girdle weakness, Shoulder weakness, Weak shoulder muscles.
Conditions associated with shoulder girdle muscle weakness
The following conditions have been associated with shoulder girdle muscle weakness in medical literature. This is informational and not a diagnosis.
Autosomal dominant progressive external ophthalmoplegia
Autosomal dominant progressive external ophthalmoplegia is a medical condition that may be associated with var...
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4A
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4A is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and si...
Congenital fiber-type disproportion myopathy
Congenital fiber-type disproportion myopathy is a medical condition that may be associated with various sympto...
Congenital multicore myopathy with external ophthalmoplegia
Congenital multicore myopathy with external ophthalmoplegia is a medical condition that may be associated with...
Distal myotilinopathy
Distal myotilinopathy is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
GNE myopathy
GNE myopathy is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Glycogen storage disease with severe cardiomyopathy due to glycogenin deficiency
Glycogen storage disease with severe cardiomyopathy due to glycogenin deficiency is a medical condition that m...
Infantile Krabbe disease
Infantile Krabbe disease is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Miyoshi myopathy
Miyoshi myopathy is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Muscular dystrophy, limb-girdle, type 1E
Muscular dystrophy, limb-girdle, type 1E is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms a...
Myopathy and diabetes mellitus
Myopathy and diabetes mellitus is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Neutral lipid storage disease with myopathy
Neutral lipid storage disease with myopathy is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptom...
Postsynaptic congenital myasthenic syndrome
Postsynaptic congenital myasthenic syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptom...
Pure mitochondrial myopathy
Pure mitochondrial myopathy is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Rotator Cuff Injury
Injury to the muscles and tendons around the shoulder joint causing pain, weakness, and reduced arm movement....
Steinert myotonic dystrophy
Steinert myotonic dystrophy is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Vocal cord and pharyngeal distal myopathy
Vocal cord and pharyngeal distal myopathy is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms ...
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis type 21
Any amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the MATR3 gene....
autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2H
Autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2H (LGMD2H) is a mild subtype of autosomal recessive l...
congenital myasthenic syndrome 9
Any congenital myasthenic syndrome in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the MUSK gene....
congenital myopathy 7A, myosin storage, autosomal dominant
congenital myopathy 7A, myosin storage, autosomal dominant is a medical condition that may be associated with ...
facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy 1
Any facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy associated with contraction of the D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat in th...
inclusion body myopathy with Paget disease of bone and frontotemporal dementia type 1
A rare autosomal dominant inherited disorder caused by mutations in the VCP gene. It can affect the muscles, b...
mitochondrial DNA deletion syndrome with progressive myopathy
mitochondrial DNA deletion syndrome with progressive myopathy is a medical condition that may be associated wi...
muscular dystrophy-dystroglycanopathy type B5
A congenital muscular dystrophy characterized by autosomal recessive inheritance of muscular dystrophy with va...
myofibrillar myopathy 2
Any autosomal dominant distal myopathy in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the CRYAB gene....
myopathy, myofibrillar, 13, with rimmed vacuoles
A rare genetic neuromuscular disease caused by a mutation in HSPB8 gene, characterized by length-dependent axo...
myopathy, myofibrillar, 9, with early respiratory failure
myopathy, myofibrillar, 9, with early respiratory failure is a medical condition that may be associated with v...
nemaline myopathy 5C, autosomal dominant
nemaline myopathy 5C, autosomal dominant is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms a...
nemaline myopathy 7
Any nemaline myopathy in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the CFL2 gene....
polyglucosan body myopathy type 2
Any polyglucosan body myopathy in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the GYG1 gene....
Tests providers may use to investigate shoulder girdle muscle weakness
When investigating shoulder girdle muscle weakness, a healthcare provider may order one or more of the following laboratory tests. Test selection is a clinical decision made by a qualified professional.
CBC with Differential
Measures red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to help evaluate overall health and detect disorder...
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Measures 14 substances in the blood to assess kidney and liver function, electrolyte balance, and blood sugar ...
Fasting Glucose
Measures blood sugar after fasting to screen for diabetes and prediabetes....
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
Reflects average blood sugar over the past 2-3 months....
Urinalysis
Examines urine content to help detect urinary tract infections, kidney disease, and diabetes....
Symptoms commonly seen alongside shoulder girdle muscle weakness
Arm Pain
Pain in the arm, which can be caused by injury, nerve compression, or referred pain from the heart....
Dysphagia
Difficulty in swallowing....
Fatigue
A subjective feeling of tiredness characterized by a lack of energy and motivation....
Night Pain
Pain that is worse at night, which can be a feature of certain injuries or inflammatory conditions....
Reduced Range of Motion
Difficulty moving a joint through its full range, which can be caused by arthritis, injury, or stiffness....
Seizure
A seizure is an intermittent abnormality of nervous system physiology characterized by a transient occurrence ...
When to seek care
Seek care from a qualified healthcare provider if shoulder girdle muscle weakness is severe, persistent, worsening, or accompanied by concerning symptoms. If you think you have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the symptom shoulder girdle muscle weakness mean?
Shoulder girdle muscle weakness is a health sign or symptom described in medical literature. The shoulder, or pectoral, girdle is composed of the clavicles and the scapulae. Shoulder-girdle weakness refers to lack of strength of the muscles attaching to these bones, that is, lack of strength of the muscles around the shoulders.
Which conditions are associated with shoulder girdle muscle weakness?
Shoulder girdle muscle weakness has been reported in association with 31 conditions in the medical literature we index, including Autosomal dominant progressive external ophthalmoplegia, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4A, Congenital fiber-type disproportion myopathy, Congenital multicore myopathy with external ophthalmoplegia, Distal myotilinopathy. These associations do not mean you have any of these conditions.
Should I see a doctor about shoulder girdle muscle weakness?
You should discuss any persistent or concerning symptoms with a qualified healthcare provider. This website does not provide diagnosis. If you have severe symptoms or signs of a medical emergency, seek care immediately.