Muscular Dystrophy: Types, Symptoms, and Diagnosis

What is muscular dystrophy?

Muscular dystrophy is a group of inherited diseases that damage and weaken your muscles over time. This damage and weakness is due to the lack of a protein called dystrophin, which is necessary for normal muscle function. The absence of this protein can cause problems with walking, swallowing, and muscle coordination.

Muscular dystrophy can occur at any age, but most diagnoses occur in childhood. Young boys are more likely to have this disease than girls.

The prognosis for muscular dystrophy depends on the type and the severity of symptoms. However, most individuals with muscular dystrophy do lose the ability to walk and eventually require a wheelchair. Theres no known cure for muscular dystrophy, but certain treatments may help.

There are more than 30 different types of muscular dystrophy, which vary in symptoms and severity. There are nine different categories used for diagnosis.

This type of muscular dystrophy is the most common among children. The majority of individuals affected are boys. Its rare for girls to develop it. The symptoms include:

People with Duchenne muscular dystrophy typically require a wheelchair before their teenage years. The life expectancy for those with this disease is late teens or 20s.

Becker muscular dystrophy is similar to Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but its less severe. This type of muscular dystrophy also more commonly affects boys. Muscle weakness occurs mostly in your arms and legs, with symptoms appearing between age 11 and 25.

Other symptoms of Becker muscular dystrophy include:

Many with this disease dont need a wheelchair until theyre in their mid-30s or older, and a small percentage of people with this disease never require one. Most people with Becker muscular dystrophy live until middle age or later.

Congenital muscular dystrophies are often apparent between birth and age 2. This is when parents begin to notice that their childs motor functions and muscle control arent developing as they should. Symptoms vary and may include:

While symptoms vary from mild to severe, the majority of people with congenital muscular dystrophy are unable to sit or stand without help. The lifespan of someone with this type also varies, depending on the symptoms. Some people with congenital muscular dystrophy die in infancy while others live until adulthood.

Myotonic dystrophy is also called Steinerts disease or dystrophia myotonica. This form of muscular dystrophy causes myotonia, which is an inability to relax your muscles after they contract. Myotonia is exclusive to this type of muscular dystrophy.

Myotonic dystrophy can affect your:

Symptoms most often appear first in your face and neck. They include:

This dystrophy type may also cause impotence and testicular atrophy in males. In women, it may cause irregular periods and infertility.

Myotonic dystrophy diagnoses are most common in adults in their 20s and 30s. The severity of symptoms can vary greatly. Some people experience mild symptoms, while others have potentially life-threatening symptoms involving the heart and lungs.

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is also known as Landouzy-Dejerine disease. This type of muscular dystrophy affects the muscles in your face, shoulders, and upper arms. FSHD may cause:

A smaller number of people with FSHD may develop hearing and respiratory problems.

FSHD tends to progress slowly. Symptoms usually appear during your teenage years, but they sometimes dont appear until your 40s. Most people with this condition live a full life span.

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy causes weakening of the muscles and a loss of muscle bulk. This type of muscular dystrophy usually begins in your shoulders and hips, but it may also occur in your legs and neck. You may find it hard to get up out of a chair, walk up and down stairs, and carry heavy items if you have limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. You may also stumble and fall more easily.

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy affects both males and females. Most people with this form of muscular dystrophy are disabled by age 20. However, many have a normal life expectancy.

Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy causes weakness in your facial, neck, and shoulder muscles. Other symptoms include:

OPMD occurs in both men and women. Individuals usually receive diagnoses in their 40s or 50s.

Distal muscular dystrophy is also called distal myopathy. It affects the muscles in your:

It may also affect your respiratory system and heart muscles. The symptoms tend to progress slowly and include a loss of fine motor skills and difficulty walking. Most people, both male and female, are diagnosed with distal muscular dystrophy between the ages of 40 and 60.

Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy tends to affect more boys than girls. This type of muscular dystrophy usually begins in childhood. The symptoms include:

Most individuals with Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy die in mid-adulthood from heart or lung failure.

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Muscular Dystrophy: Types, Symptoms, and Diagnosis