Mito and Muscles

A mitochondrial dysfunction inhibits the body's ability to convert food into energy.  Think of the body as a battery operated remote control car.  With fully charged batteries, the car zooms right along,  following the operators' every command.  As the batteries wind down, the car becomes sluggish, and is slow to respond to the operator's directions.  When the batteries are fully discharged the car totally shuts down or crashes.  This is mito's effects on the body.  The body runs out of energy and is slow to respond to the operator's (person's) commands - body systems run the risk of shutting down or crashing.  Body systems using the most energy can be at greater risk. 

To perform at peak performance, muscles need a tremendous amount of energy; energy that may not be available in a person with mito.  This is the case with Bricen.  He suffers from both low muscle tone and muscle weakness.

Bricen's low muscle tone cause his feet to pronate: he walks on the inside of his feet.

Bricen didn't sit up unsupported until past the age of one.  His first steps were taken two weeks before his second birthday; however, he was two and a half before he truly walked.  The low tone/weakness combination causes Bricen to easily lose his balance; he's fallen hundreds of times.

At the age of five (in two weeks), Bricen isn't able to go down steps without holding onto something for support.  He still goes down steps one at a time, catching his balance between steps. 

Bricen's muscles fatigue, causing him to:

Crawl,

Lay down and play,

Or, crash

THERE IS NO CURE FOR MITO....the best offered to the adults and children with a mitochondrial dysfunction is to treat the body systems as they become involved.  Mito is progressive; if medical intervention isn't successful, death can occur.