Did You Know!
Some People Have a Disorder That Makes Their Muscles Turn Into Bone
Disorder: Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP)
This extremely rare genetic disorder causes soft tissues, including muscles, tendons, and ligaments, to gradually develop bone where bone shouldn’t exist.
- Minor injuries, falls, or even certain medical injections can trigger painful episodes of new bone formation.
- The extra bone can permanently restrict movement and lock joints into place.
- FOP is estimated to affect approximately 1 in 1 million people worldwide.
Surprising fact: People with FOP are often born with unusually shaped big toes, which can provide an important early clue to the condition.
