Muscular dystrophy Health Article

Treatment

There are no known cures for the various muscular dystrophies. The goal of treatment is to control symptoms.

Physical therapy may help patients maintain muscle strength and function. Orthopedic appliances such as braces and wheelchairs can improve mobility and self-care abilities. In some cases, surgery on the spine or legs may help improve function.

Corticosteroids taken by mouth are sometimes prescribed to children to keep them walking for as along as possible.

The person should be as active as possible. Complete inactivity (such as bedrest) can make the disease worse.

Support Groups

You can ease the stress of illness by joining support groups where members share common experiences and problems. See muscular dystrophy - support group.

Expectations (prognosis)

The severity of disability depends on the type of muscular dystrophy. All types of muscular dystrophy slowly get worse, but how fast this happens varies widely.

Some types of muscular dystrophy, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, are deadly. Other types cause little disability and people with them have a normal lifespan.

Complications

• Cardiomyopathy
• Decreased ability to care for self
• Decreased mobility
• Joint contractures
• Mental impairment (varies)
• Respiratory failure
• Scoliosis

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if:

• You have symptoms of muscular dystrophy.
• You have a personal or family history of muscular dystrophy and you are planning to have children.

Prevention

Genetic counseling is advised when there is a family history of muscular dystrophy. Women may have no symptoms but still carry the gene for the disorder. Duchenne muscular dystrophy can be detected with about 95% accuracy by genetic studies performed during pregnancy.

References

Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF. Muscular dystrophies. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 608.