Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Utility of Dissociated Intrinsic Hand Muscle Atrophy in the Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Published on: March 4, 2014
Stiff limb syndrome: end of spectrum or a separate entity?
Usha K Misra1, Pradeep K Maurya, Jayantee Kalita
1Department of Neurology and Radiodiagnosis, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India. ukmisra@sgpgi.ac.in
Background:
Stiff-person syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by rigidity of axial or limb muscles with episodes of co-contraction of agonist and antagonist muscles during the spasms. In some patients axial or limb involvement may predominate and may have unusual manifestations.
Design:
Case report.
Setting:
Tertiary care teaching hospital.
Patient:
A 42-year-old farmer presented with seasonal occurrence of hiccup and vomiting during summer months for the last 3 years. He had painful lower limb spasms lasting for 2-3 minutes every 10-15 minutes for the past 20 days. His neurological examination was normal, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was 50 mm at 1st hour, and cerebrospinal fluid protein 78 mg/dL without pleocytosis. Radiograph of chest, abdominal ultrasound, and craniospinal magnetic resonance imaging were normal. The patient improved on diazepam.
Conclusion:
Our patient is a forme fruste of stiff person syndrome with hiccups and vomiting due to diaphragmatic spasm.
Related Concept Videos
Alterations in Muscle Tone lll
Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation
Disorders of the Skeletal Muscle
Musculoskeletal disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders involve injuries and conditions affecting the skeletal muscles and associated connective tissues. These disorders can arise from acute biomechanical stresses or chronic overuse and can occur across different age groups. Common injuries include sprains, fractures, and muscular strains, often resulting from...
Secondary Spinal Cord Injury llI: Pathophysiology
Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction

