The Gower sign indicates weakness in which muscle group?

• A. Proximal muscles of the hips and thighs.
• B. Distal hand muscles.
• C. Intercostal muscles.
• D. Facial muscles.

Answer: (A)

The Gower sign points to weakness in the proximal muscles of the hips and thighs. When rising from the floor, a person with proximal girdle weakness cannot rely on the hip and thigh extensors alone, so they push up with their hands on the thighs and crawl up their legs to stand. This pattern is classic for conditions like Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other proximal myopathies. The other muscle groups listed wouldn’t produce this rising-with-the-hands-on-thighs maneuver: distal hand muscle weakness affects fine motor tasks, intercostal weakness leads to breathing difficulties, and facial weakness shows trouble with facial movements rather than standing up from the floor.