Which symptom is commonly associated with Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1?

Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 is characterized by muscle weakness and myotonia, which refers to the delayed relaxation of muscles after contraction. This condition is a form of muscular dystrophy that affects both skeletal and smooth muscles. The hallmark symptom, myotonia, can be observed during clinical examination when a patient is asked to perform certain movements such as gripping or clenching.

In addition to muscle weakness and myotonia, individuals with Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 may exhibit other signs such as facial weakness, cataracts, and endocrine abnormalities. However, the primary association and the most defining symptoms of this disorder are the muscle weakness along with the distinctive myotonia, making this the correct choice for the question.

While hypotonia, progressive ataxia, and cardiomyopathy can occur in various muscular or neuromuscular disorders, they are not the key features of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1. Hypotonia typically refers to decreased muscle tone seen in conditions affecting neuromuscular development, progressive ataxia relates more to coordination issues and problems with balance, and cardiomyopathy, although it can be seen in Myotonic Dystrophy, is not as defining in early presentations