Muscular Dystrophy

What is muscular dystrophy?

Muscular dystrophy is a serious inherited degenerative condition, which causes the muscles to weaken and deteriorate over time. There are many diverse types of muscular dystrophy and each one has slightly different symptoms and characteristics. Muscular dystrophy is more common than people may think; the most common form, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, affects around 1 in 3,500 boys.

Types of muscular dystrophy

There are more than thirty different types of muscular dystrophy; some of the more widespread forms are outlined below:

• Duchenne MD: this is the most common form of muscular dystrophy; it is also the most severe form of the condition. Duchenne MD only affects boys; most boys are diagnosed with the condition at the age of three or four. Duchenne MD usually affects the muscles in the legs first and then moves to other muscle groups.
• Myotonic MD: this is the most common form of muscular dystrophy amongst adults. This form can affect both sexes and it usually affects the smaller muscle groups.
• Becker muscular dystrophy: this is similar to Duchenne MD but it is often milder and it doesn’t progresses as rapidly. Most people are diagnosed after the age of ten.
• Limb-girdle MD: there are many different forms of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy; this type of MD can affect both sexes and it usually develops in the early part of adult life. This condition generally develops in the muscles around the shoulder as well as the hip but it can spread to other parts of the body very quickly.
• Oculopharyngeal MD: this form of muscular dystrophy usually develops between the ages of 50 and 60; it affects the muscles around the eye and the throat.
• Facioscapulohumeral MD: this form of muscular dystrophy usually develops after the age of ten; it tends to progress slowly and affects the muscles in the face, the upper arm and the shoulders.