Difficulty Rising from a Chair or Squatting Position

CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC MANUAL

Difficulty rising from a chair or squatting position is a clinical sign that may indicate proximal muscle weakness. This condition can significantly affect mobility and the ability to perform daily activities.

Weakness in the hip and thigh muscles, which are essential for extending the hips and knees, is the primary cause of this difficulty. Identifying the underlying etiology is crucial to provide appropriate treatment and improve the patient’s quality of life.

Pathology	Clinical Symptoms and Signs	Suspected Diagnosis	Confirmatory Diagnosis
Polymyositis	Proximal muscle weakness, difficulty climbing stairs, lifting objects, muscle pain	Medical history, physical examination, elevated muscle enzymes	Elevated CPK, EMG, muscle biopsy
Carcinomatous neuromyopathy	Muscle weakness, weight loss, systemic symptoms associated with cancer	History of cancer, physical examination, neurological symptoms	Imaging studies, biopsy, nerve conduction studies
Thyrotoxicosis	Proximal muscle weakness, weight loss, tachycardia, heat intolerance	Medical history, physical examination, signs of hyperthyroidism	Thyroid function tests (TSH, free T4)
Diabetic amyotrophy	Proximal muscle weakness and atrophy, pain, loss of reflexes in the limbs	History of diabetes, physical examination, neurological symptoms	EMG, nerve conduction studies, blood tests (HbA1c)
Cushing’s syndrome	Proximal muscle weakness, central obesity, moon face, abdominal striae	Medical history, physical examination, characteristic signs	24-hour urine cortisol, dexamethasone suppression test
Osteomalacia	Bone pain, muscle weakness, skeletal deformities, pathological fractures	Medical history, physical examination, symptoms of vitamin D deficiency	Vitamin D levels, elevated alkaline phosphatase, X-rays
Hereditary dystrophy	Progressive muscle weakness, muscle atrophy, family history of similar weakness	Family history, physical examination, muscle weakness and atrophy	Genetic studies, muscle biopsy