What is facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy?

Also known as:  FSH, muscular dystrophy, FSHD

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy is a common muscular dystrophy which affects certain muscles of the body causing muscle weakness and wasting (atrophy).

The condition gets its name from the areas that it usually affects most:

• the face (fascia),
• shoulder blades (scapula)
• and upper arms (humeral).

While the onset and severity varies (mild cases may present later in life while rare severe cases may have sign and symptoms in infancy). Usually clinical abnormalities appear during adolescence.

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Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf MD.

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM