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A muscular dystrophy which begins at the lower legs and affects the shoulder region earlier and more severely than distal arm.
No HPO annotations are available for this condition.
Laing distal myopathy is characterized by muscle weakness and atrophy beginning in the lower legs . Onset is often before age five years. In a few children, onset has been so early as to delay walking. In two families, weakness was not recognized until the teenage years . In one family with 20 affected members, onset of lower-limb weakness occurred between early childhood and the fourth decade . Onset as late as the sixth decade has been described . More than 200 individuals have been identified with a pathogenic variant in MYH7 associated with Laing distal myopathy. The following description of the phenotypic features associated with this condition is based on the reports of , , and . Table 2. Laing Distal Myopathy: Frequency of Select Features
No consensus clinical diagnostic criteria for Laing distal myopathy have been published.
Laing distal myopathy should be considered in individuals with the following findings .
Clinical findings
Source: GeneReviews — "Laing Distal Myopathy"
No approved treatments are currently available for scapuloperoneal myopathy. The disease remains an area of unmet medical need.
No clinical practice guidelines for Laing distal myopathy have been published.
To establish the extent of disease and needs in an individual diagnosed with Laing distal myopathy, the evaluations summarized (if not performed as part of the evaluation that led to the diagnosis) are recommended.
Table 7. Recommended Surveillance for Individuals with Laing Distal Myopathy
System/Concern |
|---|
No clinical trials have been registered for scapuloperoneal myopathy.
60 publications have been identified in PubMed for scapuloperoneal myopathy. Research spans Basic Science / Preclinical (37%), Case Report / Case Series (25%), and Review / Meta-Analysis (12%).
Research Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
Laboratory research | 22 | 37% |
Data assembled from 3 of 12 sources · Last updated Sep 19, 2026, 6:19 PM UTC
Feature | % of Persons w/Feature | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Lower leg muscle weakness atrophy | 100% | — |
Finger extensor weakness | 100% | Variable time of onset |
Mild facial weakness | 80% | — |
Neck flexor weakness | 100% | — |
Proximal muscle weakness | 100% | — |
Spinal manifestations | ~30% | — |
Cardiac problems | 30% | Lower leg weakness follows a typical sequence: initially dorsiflexion of the ankle and great toe is affected and leads to a high-stepping gait, dropped big toe, and secondary tightening of the Achilles tendon . |
Source: GeneReviews — "Laing Distal Myopathy"
Other disorders to consider in the differential diagnosis of Laing distal myopathy are indicated in this section. Congenital Myopathy The early onset of Laing distal myopathy means that any of the milder congenital myopathies may be a differential diagnosis . Table 4a. Congenital Myopathies of Interest in the Differential Diagnosis of Laing Distal Myopathy
Gene(s) | Disorder | MOI | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
MTM1 | Centronuclear myopathy (CNM); e.g., CNM1 (OMIM 160150) XL myotubular myopathy | ADXL | Ptosis restriction of eye movements are common. |
NEB | Distal nebulin myopathy 2 (OMIM 256030) | AR | Muscle biopsy shows nemaline bodies. |
RYR1 | Central core disease (OMIM 117000) | ADAR | Weakness is more proximal than distal, affecting hip girdle in particular; muscle biopsy shows central cores. |
Distal Myopathies of Interest in the Differential Diagnosis of Laing Distal Myopathy Gene | Disorder1 | MOI | Mean Age at Onset |
MYH7 | Laing distal myopathy | AD | 5 yrs |
Udd distal myopathy – tibial muscular dystrophy | AD | 35 yrs | Anterior compartment in legs |
GNE | GNE myopathy (Nonaka distal myopathy) | AR | 20 yrs |
TTN | Myofibrillar myopathies2 (OMIM PS601419) | ADAR | Mostly adulthood, rarely teens |
DYS1 | Miyoshi myopathy (See Dysferlinopathy.) | AR | Late teens, early adulthood |
TIA1 | Welander distal myopathy3 (OMIM 604454) | ADAR | 40 yrs |
ANO5 | Distal anoctaminopathy (See ANO5 Muscle Disease.) | AR | 20 yrs |
Source: GeneReviews — "Laing Distal Myopathy"
Biomarker and diagnostic research for scapuloperoneal myopathy has been reported in the published literature.
Recommended Evaluations Following Initial Diagnosis in Individuals with Laing Distal Myopathy
System/Concern | Evaluation | Comment
| Full neurologic exam review of early gross motor milestones | Exam should specifically look for tightening of Achilles tendon pattern of muscle weakness.
| Baseline eval w/cardiologist incl EKG echocardiogram |
Genetic
counseling | By genetics professionals1 | To inform affected persons their families re nature, MOI, implications of Laing distal myopathy to facilitate medical personal decision making
MOI = mode of inheritance
1. Medical geneticist, certified genetic counselor, or certified advanced genetic nurse
Treatment of Manifestations
Table 6.
Treatment of Manifestations in Individuals with Laing Distal Myopathy
Manifestation/Concern | Treatment | Considerations/Other
| Physiotherapy | To prevent or treat tightening of Achilles tendon
Lightweight splinting of ankle (w/ankle-foot orthosis) | Considered for those w/more advanced disease
| Standard medical treatment under supervision of cardiologist |
| Surgical stabilization of spine | Bracing is ge...
Source: GeneReviews — "Laing Distal Myopathy"
Search ClinicalTrials.gov in the US and EU Clinical Trials Register in Europe for access to information on clinical studies for a wide range of diseases and conditions. Note: There may not be clinical trials for this disorder.
Source: GeneReviews — "Laing Distal Myopathy"
View trials for scapuloperoneal myopathy
Evaluation
Frequency |
|---|
Distal myopathy | Neurology eval | Annually |
Cardiomyopathy | Cardiology eval incl EKG echocardiogram | If symptoms of cardiac insufficiency occur |
Scoliosis /or kyphoscolisois | Eval | During years of rapid growth in adolescence |
Sleep-related respiratory insufficiency / Obstructive sleep apnea | Respiratory function assessment | If symptoms suggest sleep apnea / sleep-related respiratory insufficiency |
Source: GeneReviews — "Laing Distal Myopathy"
15 |
25% |
Research summaries | 7 | 12% |
Disease patterns and progression | 6 | 10% |
New treatment approaches | 4 | 7% |
Other research | 3 | 5% |
Testing and diagnosis research | 2 | 3% |
Clinical study results | 1 | 2% |
Odell J (2026). [PMID: 41581864](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41581864/). *The Journal of biological chemistry*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Chorsi MS (2026). [PMID: 41690201](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41690201/). *Stem cell research*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Granata LG (2026). [PMID: 42123018](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42123018/). *J Clin Med*. [Review / Meta-Analysis]
Shimazaki R (2026). [PMID: 41498312](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41498312/). *Muscle & nerve*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Fan H (2026). [PMID: 41993022](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41993022/). *Circulation*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Ng BSM (2026). [PMID: 41717440](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41717440/). *Anaesthesia reports*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Elkoush A (2026). [PMID: 42047848](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42047848/). *J Neurol*. [Epidemiology / Natural History]
Mattioli E (2026). [PMID: 42120880](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42120880/). *Cell Death Dis*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Abraham A (2026). [PMID: 41964869](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41964869/). *Pediatr Cardiol*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Lopes MC (2026). [PMID: 41989866](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41989866/). *Hum Mol Genet*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]