Mitochondrial myopathy: evaluation and physiotherapeutic orientations – case report

Abstract

Mitochondrial myopathies (MM) are a heterogeneous group of disorders that compromises the breathing chain of DNA. Intolerance to the exercises, muscular fatigue to small efforts, muscular weakness, heart palpitation and breathing symptoms, as difficulty to breathe, are common complaints in the patients with MM. It is intended to discuss topics of the functional evaluation and of the physiotherapeutic orientations supplied to a woman with MM. The case refers to E. M., woman, 29 years, clinical signals of MM that includes pain and muscular weakness in the superior and inferior members. The patient was submitted to tests of isometric maximum force using manual dynamometry, proof of lung function, and showed decrease of muscular force of the groups evaluated. The clinical goal of the intervention proposed was the maintenance of the function with expectation of small convalescence in some parameters, and decrease of the intensity and of the number of complaints related by the patient, affecting her quality of life.