Types Of Muscular Dystrophy
Muscular Dystrophy is a group of genetic disorders that cause progressive muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass.
Muscular dystrophy is a group of inherited diseases in which voluntary muscles become damaged and gradually weaken due to the absence of the protein “dystrophin”, which is essential for healthy muscular function. This results in a loss of strength in the muscles, which can lead to impaired coordination, walking difficulties, increased disability, and deformity.
Muscular dystrophy can occur at any stage of life, but it is most commonly seen in childhood, particularly in young boys. Unfortunately, those with the disease eventually lose the ability to walk, and require assistance to do so. Although there is currently no known cure, treatments can help to manage the symptoms.
Table of Contents
Types of Muscular Dystrophy
There are mainly nine types of muscular dystrophy, each of which has different symptoms, age of onset, severity, and rate of progression. Some types are even named after the muscle they affect.
- Duchenne
2. Myotonic
- Becker
4. Congenital
5. Facioscapulohumeral
6. Limb-girdle
7. Oculopharyngeal
8. Distal
9. Emery-Dreifuss
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Symptoms of Muscular Dystrophy
| Type | Age of onset | Common Symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Duchenne | 2 to 6 Years | Muscle Weakness and Problems in Coordination |
Difficulties with walking, running, jumping, and standing up
Breathing difficulties, lung weakness, and heart weakness
Scoliosis: Abnormal curvature of the spine
Learn to speak later
Learning Difficulties
Mostly found in boys
Life expectancy is not less than the 20s
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| Year | Sales |
|---|---|
| 2017 | $500 |
| 2018 | $600 |
| 2019 | $700 |
Myotonic or Steinert’s Disease | 20 to 30 years | Muscle Stiffness (Myotonia)
Causes sagging of facial muscles
Poor Vision, Cataract
Excessive Sleeping
Affects the adrenal glands and thyroid
Learning Problems
Irregular Heartbeat
Can lead to weakening of neck muscles, and difficulty in lifting the neck
May lead to infertility or impotence
Progression is gradual
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| Becker | Adolescence 11-15 years | Less severe than Duchenne |
Commonly affects boys
Muscle Weakness of Arms and Legs
Muscle cramps and frequent falls
Having difficulty getting up and walking on the toes
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|---|---|
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| First Name | Last Name |
|---|---|
| John | Smith |
| Congenital | By birth | Poor motor control |
Joint Deformities and Inability to Sit or Stand
Scoliosis: Abnormal curvature of the spine
Vision and Speech Problems
Respiratory Problems
Dysphagia
Intellectual Impairment
Shortened Lifespan
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| Joe | C |
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| Student | Grade |
|---|---|
| John | A |
| Jane | B |
| Joe | C |
| Jill | D |
| Facioscapulohumeral | Childhood to early adult | Weakness in facial muscles, shoulder and upper arms |
Progression is gradual, but there is a sudden decline in the rate of progress.
Crooked appearance of mouth and inability to purse lips
Inability to close their eyes completely
Wing-like Appearance of the Shoulder Blades
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| Limb-girdle | Late Childhood to Middle Age | Affects both Males and Females |
Normal Life Expectancy
Loss of Muscle Mass
Affects the Pectoral and Pelvic Girdles
Difficulty in climbing stairs and getting up from a chair
Heart palpitations are mostly fatal due to complications in the heart or lungs. represents a table
| Name | Age |
|---|---|
| John | 20 |
| Name | Age |
|---|---|
| John | 20 |
| Oculopharyngeal | 40 to 50 years | Affects muscle of eyelids, throat and shoulder |
Swallowing difficulties can result in malnutrition or even starvation.
Drooping Eyelids
Change in voice and vision issues
Occurs in both men and women represents a table
| Name | Age |
|---|---|
| John | 27 |
| Name | Age |
|---|---|
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| Distal | 40 to 60 years | Progression is slow |
Weakness and loss of muscles in the hands, forearms, calves, and feet
Affects Both Males and Females
Loss of Fine Motor Skills
Difficulty in Walking
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| Emery-Dreifuss | Childhood to early teens | Affects both boys and girls |
Slow Progression
Shortened Muscles
Tightened tendons limit joint movements.
Weakness of the shoulder, upper arm, and shin muscles
Heart and Breathing Problems
Sudden Death from Cardiac Problems indicates a table column
| Name | Age |
|---|---|
| John | 25 |
| Name | Age |
|---|---|
| John | 25 |
Symptoms and Causes of Muscular Dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder that is usually inherited and is caused by mutations in genes that affect the structure and function of muscles, resulting in muscle weakness and disability. This is usually due to interference in the formation of a protein called dystrophin, which is necessary for normal muscle functioning. Muscular dystrophy can be a sex-linked, recessive, or dominant inherited disorder, or it can be spontaneous, with no family history.
Treatment
No cure exists for muscular dystrophy; treatments available are only able to help manage the condition and slow its progression.
Steroid Medication for Strengthening Muscles
Surgery to correct deformities, remove cataracts, and treat cardiac complications
Exercises to strengthen muscles and yoga have been found to be beneficial in helping an individual become more independent.
Exercising or undergoing surgery to improve the swallowing problem
Ataluren is a new medicine to treat Duchenne disease patients aged 5 years or older who are still able to walk.
Lots of research is being conducted to create new treatments for the disease, such as exon skipping and using stem cells to regenerate damaged muscle tissue.
