Muscular dystrophy is a group of disorders that cause muscle weakness over time. The different forms are:
This condition is caused by changes in genes. These changes cause problems with how the body makes proteins that are needed for healthy muscles. Each form of the disease is caused by a different faulty gene. Some of these genes are passed from parent to child.
Duchenne dystrophy and Becker dystrophy are more common in boys.
The risk of muscular dystrophy is also higher in people who have a family member who have it.
The main symptom is muscle weakness that gets worse over time. Other symptoms depend on the type of muscular dystrophy a person has.
Other symptoms that are common in most forms are:
Severe Muscle Contraction of the HandCopyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. |
Symptoms of Duchenne and Becker dystrophy are:
Symptoms of myotonic muscular dystrophy are:
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done.
Blood tests will be done. The tests will look for enzymes released by damaged muscles. Tests will also look for changes in genes.
A muscle biopsy may be done. It will identify the type of muscular dystrophy
Muscles and nerves may be tested. This can be done with:
There is no cure. The goal of treatment is to manage symptoms. Choices are:
People with severe symptoms may need surgery. Surgery may be done to release tight muscles or to insert a pacemaker to treat heart problems.
Muscular Dystrophy Association
http://www.mdausa.org
Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation
http://www.mdff.org
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca
Muscle Dystrophy Canada
http://www.muscle.ca
Congenital muscular dystrophy. Muscular Dystrophy Association website. Available at:
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Accessed October 14, 2020.
Darras BT, Miller DT, et al. Dystrophinopathies. GeneReviews 2014 Nov 26.
Distal myopathies. Muscular Dystrophy Association website. Available at: https://www.mda.org/disease/distal-myopathies. Accessed October 14, 2020.
Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/duchenne-and-becker-muscular-dystrophies. Accessed October 14, 2020.
Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy. Muscular Dystrophy Association website. Available at:
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Accessed October 14, 2020.
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Muscular Dystrophy Association website. Available at:
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Accessed October 14, 2020.
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. Muscular Dystrophy Association website. Available at:
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Accessed October 14, 2020.
Muscular dystrophy information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at:
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Accessed October 14, 2020.
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. Muscular Dystrophy Association website. Available at:
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Accessed October 14, 2020.
Last reviewed September 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Teresa Briedwell, PT, DPT