Living with Rippling muscle disease
A muscle condition in which muscles are overly sensitive to stretch or tapping, causing visible ripples, cramps, and stiffness.
Understanding Rippling muscle disease
Muscles near the center of the body, especially the thighs, are most affected. Stretching a muscle often causes visible ripples lasting 5 to 20 seconds. A bump can cause the muscle to bunch up or tense repeatedly, which may be painful. It often begins in late childhood or the teen years, but onset varies.
Signs & symptoms
GARD doesn't list specific symptoms for this condition. Its summary describes these:
- Visible ripples across a stretched muscle
- Muscle bunching or rapid tensing after a bump
- Larger muscles, especially in the calf
- Walking on tiptoe
- Fatigue and cramps
- Stiffness after exercise or in the cold
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Your doctor may refer you to a specialist who knows rare conditions.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- A doctor familiar with rare conditions, plus specialists as needed
- Expert care
- Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with rare disease patient organizations for support
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
GARD doesn't describe a cause here. It notes that rippling muscles can also be a feature of other muscle disorders, such as limb-girdle muscular dystrophy.
Also known as: rippling muscle syndrome; rmd2
Patient organizations
Rare-disease groups that can help
- Global GenesRare Diseases · United States
- National Organization for Rare DisordersRare Diseases · United States
- Genetic AllianceRare Diseases · United States
- RARE FoundationRare Diseases · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Rippling muscle disease.
Explore research for Rippling muscle disease
Explore actively recruiting Rippling muscle disease studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Rippling muscle disease with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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