Muscle Weakness

By SWA

A reminder about post-exertional malaise:
Muscle abnormalities worsen following post-exertional malaise in long COVID.

A subgroup of patients who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 remains symptomatic for over three months post-infection. A distinctive symptom among these long COVID patients is post-exertional malaise, characterized by a worsening of fatigue- and pain-related symptoms following acute mental or physical exertion. However, the underlying pathophysiology remains unclear. Based on personal experience, the structure of skeletal muscle is linked to reduced exercise capacity, as well as local and systemic metabolic disturbances, leading to severe exercise-induced myopathy.

Leg and skeletal muscle weakness has been one of my biggest problems since early childhood and has become a lifelong search for answers.
Looking back, I remember other people who have had muscle weakness all their lives and never knew it was not normal. What we know is, that we would never be in a marathon but rather must be satisfied being short-distance sprinters. The reason is genetics, a gene ACTN3 gene, rs1815739 encodes a premature stop codon in a muscle protein called alpha-actinin-3. The polymorphism alters position 577 of the alpha-actinin-3 protein. https://www.snpedia.com/index.php/rs1815739

One of the explanations why I found in this lecture “Musculoskeletal System | Type II Muscle Fibers | Type IIa & IIx” Professor Zach Murphy teaching you about the structural, metabolic, and function of Type II muscle fibers which can be divided into type IIa (fast oxidative), and type IIx (fast glycolytic). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMV5BDoP8dY

Once more I would point out that all muscles, including the heart, can be affected when a viral infection interferes with or hinders glycolysis, the almost universal pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate along with the formation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

Several viruses (besides SARS-CoV-2)  and bacteria can contribute to muscle weakness.

  1. Viruses:

    • Influenza Virus: Commonly known as the flu, it can cause widespread muscle aches and weakness.
    • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): Can lead to muscle wasting and weakness, particularly in advanced stages.
    • Coronaviruses: Including SARS-CoV-2 (which causes COVID-19), often lead to muscle aches and weakness.
    • Enteroviruses: Such as Coxsackievirus, can cause muscle weakness and are associated with conditions like hand, foot, and mouth disease.
    • Herpesviruses: Like Epstein-Barr virus, known for causing mononucleosis, can lead to muscle weakness and fatigue.
    • Hepatitis C Virus: Can be associated with muscle weakness and fatigue.

  2. Bacteria:

    • Borrelia burgdorferi: Causes Lyme disease, which can lead to muscle aches and weakness.
    • Clostridium botulinum: Produces a toxin causing botulism, leading to severe muscle weakness.
    • Mycoplasma pneumoniae: Known for causing atypical pneumonia, can also lead to muscle weakness and fatigue.
    • Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus species: Can cause bacterial infections leading to muscle weakness, often secondary to systemic illness or localized infections.

It's important to note that muscle weakness resulting from these infections can be due to a combination of direct effects of the pathogen, the body's immune response, and secondary complications like dehydration or electrolyte imbalances. Additionally, chronic fatigue syndrome, a complex disorder, can sometimes follow viral infections and is characterized by persistent fatigue and muscle weakness among other symptoms.

For now, it seems to be Rob Wüst's research into muscle weakness. There is a chance that he may bring some clarity regarding whether a virus or bacteria causes muscle malfunction, or even which virus or bacteria mutates gene expression.

On 

© 2000-2025 Sieglinde W. Alexander. All writings by Sieglinde W. Alexander have a fife year copy right.
Library of Congress Card Number: LCN 00-192742

ISBN: 0-9703195-0-9

No part of this article or any other text can be used for publication or reproduction in any form without written permission from the author.

 

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