Periodic Paralysis Association

The Periodic Paralysis Association (PPA) is a non-profit corporation dedicated to providing educational information, advocacy and genetic testing to individuals suffering from the class of disorders known as periodic paralysis and non-dystrophic myotonia. These disorders are characterized by episodic loss of muscle tone ranging from mild weakness to profound global flaccid paralysis, progressive permanent muscle deterioration, severe muscle stiffness and various degrees of myotonia, twitching or other involuntary muscle movement, cardiac irregularities, and difficulty breathing. These disorders are also known as channelopathies and include hyperkalemic periodic paralysis, hypokalemic periodic paralysis, other atypical forms of periodic paralysis, Anderson’s syndrome, thyrotoxic periodic paralysis, various myotonias (paramyotonia congenita, Becker’s and Thomsen’s myotonia, and others). The PPA also addresses periodic paralyses related to sleep disorders.