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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffPolymyositis (pol-e-mi-o-SI-tis) is an uncommon disease that causes inflammation in your muscles. It's a type of connective tissue disease. The most noticeable characteristic of polymyositis is muscle weakness, especially in the muscles closest to your trunk, such as your shoulder and hip muscles. As a result, you may find it difficult to get out of chairs, climb stairs, brush your hair or work with your arms over your head.
Polymyositis can occur at any age, but it mostly affects adults in their 40s and 50s. It's more common in blacks than in whites, and women have it more often than men do. Polymyositis usually develops gradually over weeks or months.
Periods of remission, during which symptoms improve spontaneously, rarely occur in polymyositis. However, treatment can improve your muscle strength and function.
Symptoms
