Muscular dystrophy is a group of diseases that causes muscles to become weaker and lose mass over time. The condition is caused by changes in the genes that make proteins needed to form healthy muscles.

There are many types of muscular dystrophy. Symptoms of the most common type start in childhood, mostly in boys. Other types sometimes don't start until adulthood.

Medicines and other treatments can help manage the symptoms and slow the course of muscular dystrophy.

The main symptom of muscular dystrophy is muscle weakness that becomes worse over time. This makes everyday tasks harder to do. The type of muscular dystrophy that a person has determines the:

• Exact symptoms.
• Age range at which the symptoms start.
• Muscle groups that are affected.

There are over 30 types of muscular dystrophy. Here are some of the main types along with key symptoms.

Duchenne type muscular dystrophy

This is the most common form. Girls can carry the gene change that causes the disease, and some have symptoms. But this type of muscular dystrophy is much more common in boys.

Most often, the symptoms of Duchenne muscular dystrophy start in early childhood. The symptoms can include challenges with movement, such as:

• Late walking.
• Frequent falls.
• Trouble rising from the floor or a lying or seated position.
• Trouble running, jumping or climbing stairs.
• Waddling gait.
• Walking on the toes or the balls of the feet.

Other symptoms can include:

• Large calf muscles.
• Muscle pain and stiffness.
• Learning or behavior-related challenges.
• Delayed growth.

Becker muscular dystrophy

The symptoms of this type are like those of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but Becker muscular dystrophy tends to be milder, and it becomes worse more slowly. In general, symptoms start in the teens or early adulthood. They might not occur until the mid-20s or later.

Other types of muscular dystrophy

Some types of muscular dystrophy are defined by a certain feature. Or they're defined by where in the body the symptoms start. Examples include:

• Emery-Dreifuss. The symptoms of this type often start by age 10. Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy causes certain joints to become stiff. Early on, some children may walk on their toes due to stiff tendons in the heels. They also may have trouble bending the elbows. This type of muscular dystrophy also causes muscles in the shoulders, upper arms and calves to slowly waste and weaken. Some people with the disease develop heart conditions that can cause fainting. Heart conditions need to be watched closely by a healthcare team.
• Myotonic. With this type of muscular dystrophy, the muscles can't relax at will. For example, it might be hard to let go of someone's hand after shaking it. Facial and neck muscles often are the first to be affected. Symptoms often start between the ages of 20 and 30, but some have symptoms shortly after birth to childhood. As the disease becomes worse, the heart might beat out of rhythm and the heart muscle can grow weaker. Heart rhythm issues can be the first complication for some people. Muscles involved in breathing also can become weaker. This can lead to poor breathing, especially during sleep. Other names for myotonic dystrophy are Steinert's disease or dystrophia myotonica.
• Facioscapulohumeral (FSHD) . With this type, muscle weakness usually starts in the face, shoulders and upper arms. The weakness often affects one side of the body more than the other. When muscles around the eyes are affected, that can cause trouble fully closing the eyelids and lead to dryness of the eye. When the shoulders are affected, the shoulder blades might stick out like wings when the arms are raised. Sometimes, mild hearing loss also may occur. The symptoms of FSHD tend to start in the teenage years.
• Congenital. There are many types of congenital MD. These types cause symptoms at birth or before age 2. Most children with congenital muscular dystrophy have muscle weakness that becomes worse. But some forms of congenital muscular dystrophy progress slowly and cause mild disability. Others become worse quickly and cause serious health challenges. Babies with muscle weakness or lack of muscle tone can seem "floppy." Later on, babies and toddlers might take longer than usual to roll over, sit up or walk. Or they might not meet certain milestones of development at all.
• Limb-girdle. This type often affects muscles around the shoulders and hips. Some people with limb-girdle dystrophy develop minor disabilities over time. Others develop serious trouble using their arms or legs to do everyday activities, such as walking or carrying things. The age at which symptoms start, how serious they become and how quickly they get worse varies.
• Oculopharyngeal. This type tends to weaken the eyelids and the throat muscles. It's also been linked with muscle weakness in the limbs and near the center of the body from top to bottom. It can cause trouble swallowing, weakness of the tongue and drooping eyelids. In time, some people also have trouble with movement. Symptoms often start in the 40s and 50s, and they become worse slowly.

Get medical advice if you notice symptoms of muscle weakness in yourself or your child. Symptoms could include delays in development, more clumsiness than usual and falling.

Certain genes are involved in making proteins that protect muscle fibers. Most muscular dystrophy happens when one of these genes goes through an irregular change. You might hear this called a gene mutation.

Each type of muscular dystrophy is caused by a gene change that is particular to that type of the disease. Most of these gene changes are passed from parent to child, also called inherited.

Muscular dystrophy occurs in people of all ages and ethnic groups. But the most common type, Duchenne, usually affects young boys. People with a family history of muscular dystrophy have a higher risk of getting the disease or passing it on to their children.

Muscular dystrophy can lead to serious health issues, such as the following:

• Trouble walking. In time, some people with muscular dystrophy will use a wheelchair for mobility.
• Trouble using arms. Daily activities can become harder if the muscles of the arms and shoulders are affected.
• Shortening of muscles or tendons around joints, called contractures. Along with the weakness caused by the muscular dystrophy, less range of motion in joints also can limit walking and arm use.
• Trouble breathing or coughing. Over time, muscular dystrophy can affect the muscles involved in breathing. Some people who develop serious trouble breathing might need to use devices that help keep the airways open or assist with breathing. Muscular dystrophy also can affect muscles that are used to cough. That can make it hard for the body to remove mucus from the lungs and windpipe. If your child has trouble coughing, ask your healthcare professional to recommend techniques or treatments that can help.
• Curved spine, also called scoliosis. This is most likely to happen in a growing child who can't walk. The curving may play a role in breathing troubles and challenges with getting into certain positions. Sometimes, surgery is needed to correct the curving.
• Heart problems. Muscular dystrophy can make it harder for the heart to pump well or beat with a regular rhythm.
• Swallowing problems. If the muscles involved with swallowing are affected, that can lead to trouble getting enough nutrition. Trouble swallowing also raises the risk of a lung infection caused by breathing food or liquid into the airways. This is called aspiration pneumonia. To lower these risks, nutrition may need to be given through a flexible device called a feeding tube.
• Brain-related differences. Some children with certain types of muscular dystrophy have challenges with learning, intelligence or social skills. For example, those with Duchenne muscular dystrophy may have higher rates of autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety compared with people who don't have muscular dystrophy. If your child has a learning, intellectual or mental health condition, talk with your child's school. Ask for changes that can help your child learn more easily, called accommodations.
• Weakening bones. Children may have fewer minerals in their bones than usual. This is called low bone density. It can lead to weaker bones over time, especially in children who use wheelchairs. Low bone density raises the risk of broken bones, also called fractures. A healthcare professional might prescribe medicines to help strengthen weak bones.

Your healthcare team asks about your or your child's medical history, including general health and past illnesses. A physical exam is done.

After that, the healthcare team might recommend tests. These tests are based on the type of muscular dystrophy suspected. They may include the following:

• Enzyme tests. Damaged muscles release proteins called enzymes into the blood. These enzymes include creatine kinase. In a person who hasn't had a serious injury, high blood levels of creatine kinase suggest a muscle disease.
• Genetic testing. Blood samples can be checked for changes in some of the genes that cause types of muscular dystrophy.
• Muscle biopsy. A small piece of muscle can be removed through an incision or with a hollow needle. Then a lab checks this tissue sample. The lab can tell muscular dystrophies apart from other muscle diseases.
• Tests to monitor the heart, such as electrocardiography and echocardiogram. These tests are used to check how well the heart works, especially in people who have myotonic muscular dystrophy.
• Tests to monitor the lungs. These tests are used to check lung function.
• Electromyography. A special needle is placed into the muscle to be tested. Electrical activity is measured as the muscle is relaxed and as it is gently tightened. Changes in the pattern of electrical activity can confirm a muscle disease. This test rarely is used to find out if Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy is the cause of someone's symptoms.

No cure exists for any type of muscular dystrophy. But treatment for some types of the disease can help people:

• Maintain muscle strength.
• Prevent complications.
• Stay independent and mobile longer.
• Improve heart and lung health.

Treatments for some types of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, in particular, are quickly expanding based on research.

People with muscular dystrophy often need to be monitored throughout life by a team of healthcare professionals. A primary care doctor often helps oversee your overall medical care. Most often, the care team includes:

• A doctor called a neurologist, who treats brain and nervous system conditions. It's key to find a neurologist who has experience treating diseases that affect how muscles work due to nerves and muscles in the body. These are called neuromuscular diseases.
• A doctor called a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician or physiatrist, who helps people with disabilities function better, be more independent and have less pain.
• A physical therapist, who teaches exercises to improve movement and keep muscles stronger and flexible for longer.
• An occupational therapist, who teaches various ways to make everyday tasks easier.

Many people with muscular dystrophy also might need other doctors, including a:

• Lung doctor called a pulmonologist, as well as a respiratory therapist who helps with breathing.
• Heart doctor called a cardiologist.
• Doctor whose speciality is treating sleep conditions.
• Hormone expert called an endocrinologist to help with bone density and growth concerns.
• Orthopedic surgeon, who treats problems with bones, joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles.
• Doctor called a gastroenterologist, who treats problems with the stomach and intestinal tract.
• A palliative care doctor, who cares for people living with serious illnesses.
• A genetics doctor or counselor to help guide you about the course your muscular dystrophy likely will take.

Many people with muscular dystrophy also might need to see other specialists, such as a:

• Speech therapist for swallowing and communication.
• Dietitian or nutritionist, who recommends special diets when needed.
• Social worker for support and community resources.
• Psychologist or psychiatrist to assess and treats mood or behavior-related conditions.

Muscular dystrophy treatment includes medicines, physical and occupational therapy, equipment, surgery, and other procedures. Ongoing tests of walking, swallowing, breathing and hand function help the treatment team change treatments as needed over time.

Medicines

Your healthcare team might recommend medicines such as:

• Corticosteroids. These medicines can help with muscle strength and slow some types of muscular dystrophy from becoming worse. Examples of corticosteroids include prednisone and deflazacort (Emflaza). Long-term use of this type of medicine can cause weight gain and weaker bones. That raises the risk of breaking a bone, also called a fracture.
• Targeted medicines and gene therapies. These are tailored to treat some people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who have certain confirmed gene changes. More and more treatments are becoming available based on research. These include eteplirsen (Exondys 51), golodirsen (Vyondys 53), viltolarsen (Viltepso), casimersen (Amondys 45), and delandistrogene moxeparvovec-rokl (Elevidys).

  Ask your healthcare professional what your treatment choices are. Approved targeted treatments may vary by country.

• Heart medicines. If muscular dystrophy damages the heart muscle and causes heart symptoms, these medicines may be prescribed. They include angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and beta blockers.

Therapy

Various therapy and assistive devices can improve the quality of life in people with muscular dystrophy. They may help some people live longer too. Examples include:

• Range-of-motion and stretching exercises. Muscular dystrophy can limit how flexible and mobile affected joints are. Range-of-motion exercises can help to keep joints as flexible as possible.
• Exercise. Low-impact aerobic exercise can help with strength, movement and general health. Examples include walking and swimming. Some types of strengthening exercises also might be helpful. But talk to your healthcare professional before you start exercising. Some types of workouts might be harmful or unsafe to do.
• Braces. These devices can help keep muscles and tendons stretched and flexible. This slows contractures from becoming worse. Braces also can aid movement and function by supporting weaker muscles.
• Mobility aids. Canes, walkers and wheelchairs can help people with muscular dystrophy move around and stay independent.
• Breathing assistance. As muscles involved in breathing become weaker, deep breathing and coughing exercises taught by a healthcare professional can help. Some people also need help breathing during sleep. A device that delivers air through a face mask may be prescribed. Other people who have serious breathing problems need to use a machine that forces air in and out of the lungs, called a ventilator.

Surgery

Surgery might be needed to fix contractures or a curve in the spine that could make breathing harder over time. Heart health may be improved with a pacemaker or other heart device.

Preventing respiratory infections

Illnesses that affect the muscles involved in breathing can become a problem with muscular dystrophy. So, it's key to be vaccinated for pneumonia. Also, keep up to date with shots that protect against the flu and COVID-19. Try to stay away from people who are sick.

Learning that you or a loved one has muscular dystrophy can be very challenging. To help cope, find someone to talk with. You might feel comfortable sharing your feelings with a friend or family member. Or you might prefer meeting with a formal support group.

If your child has muscular dystrophy, ask your healthcare professional about ways to explain the condition to your child.

You might be referred to a doctor who's received extra training to find and treat muscular dystrophy.

What you can do

• Write down your or your child's symptoms and when they began.
• Bring photos or video recordings to show the doctor or other healthcare professionals the symptoms that concern you.
• Write down key medical information, including other medical conditions.
• Make a list of all medicines, vitamins and supplements you or your child takes. Include the amounts taken, called the doses.
• Tell your healthcare professional whether anyone in your family has muscular dystrophy.

Questions to ask your or your child's doctor

• What's the most likely cause of these symptoms?
• What tests are needed?
• What are the possible health problems that can happen with this condition?
• What treatments do you recommend?
• What is the long-term outlook?
• Do you recommend that our family meet with a genetic counselor?

Feel free to ask other questions during your visit.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor or another healthcare professional is likely to ask you questions such as:

• Are the symptoms getting worse?
• What, if anything, relieves them?
• What, if anything, makes them worse?
• Do you plan on having more children?