Muscular dystrophy
(MD)
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Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of rare
inherited muscle diseases in which muscle fibers are
unusually susceptible to damage. Muscles, primarily
your voluntary muscles, become progressively weaker.
In the late stages of muscular dystrophy, fat and
connective tissue often replace muscle fibers. In
some types of muscular dystrophy, heart muscles,
other involuntary muscles and other organs are
affected.
Nine major types of muscular dystrophy occur. The
most common muscular dystrophies appear to be due to
a genetic deficiency of the muscle protein
dystrophin.
There's no cure, but medications
and therapy can slow the course of the disease.
Treatment
There's currently no cure for any form of muscular dystrophy. Research
into gene therapy may eventually provide treatment to stop the
progression of some types of muscular dystrophy. Current treatment is
designed to help prevent or reduce deformities in the joints and the
spine and to allow people with MD to remain mobile as long as possible.
Treatments may include various types of physical therapy, medications,
assistive devices and surgery.
Physical therapy
As
muscular dystrophy progresses and muscles weaken, fixations
(contractures) can develop in joints. Tendons can shorten, restricting
the flexibility and mobility of joints. Contractures are uncomfortable
and may affect the joints of your hands, feet, elbows, knees and hips.
One goal of physical therapy is to provide regular range of motion
exercises to keep your joints as flexible as possible, delaying the
progression of contractures, and reducing or delaying curvature of your
spine. Using hot baths (hydrotherapy) also can help maintain range of
motion in joints.
Medications
Doctors prescribe medications to treat some forms of muscular dystrophy:
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For myotonic
dystrophy.
The medications phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), quinine and
procainamide (Pronestyl) may be used to treat the delayed muscle
relaxation that occurs in myotonic dystrophy.
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For Duchenne's
muscular dystrophy.
The anti-inflammatory corticosteroid medication prednisone (Deltasone)
may help improve muscle strength and delay the progression of
Duchenne's MD.
Assistive devices
Braces can both provide support for weakened muscles of your hands and
lower legs and help keep muscles and tendons stretched and flexible,
slowing the progression of contractures. Other devices such as canes,
walkers and wheelchairs can help maintain mobility and independence. If
respiratory muscles become weakened, using a ventilator may become
necessary.
Surgery
To
release the contractures that may develop and that can position joints
in painful ways, doctors can perform a tendon release surgery. This may
be done to relieve tendons of your hip and knee and on the Achilles
tendon at the back of your foot. Surgery may also be needed to correct
curvature of your spine.
Other treatments
Because respiratory infections may become a problem in later stages of
muscular dystrophy, it's important to be vaccinated for pneumonia and to
keep up-to-date with influenza shots.
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