Essay On Muscular Dystrophy
Definition
• Muscular Dystrophy is a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness & a loss of muscle mass • In MD, abnormal genes (mutations) interfere with the production of proteins needed to form healthy muscle
• There are many different kinds of Muscular
Dystrophy
• Symptoms of the most common variety begin in childhood, primarily in boys
• Other types don’t surface until adulthood
Definition Cont…
• Some people who have MD will eventually lose the ability to walk
• Some may have trouble breathing or swallowing
• There is no cure for Muscular Dystrophy but medications & therapy can help manage symptoms & slow the course of the disease
Symptoms
• The main sign of Muscular Dystrophy is progressive muscle weakness
• Specific signs …show more content…
& symptoms begin at different ages & in different muscle groups, depending on the type of Muscular Dystrophy
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
• About half of people with Muscular Dystrophy have this type.
Although girls can be carriers & mildly affected, the disease typically affects boys.
• About one-third of boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy don’t have a family history of the disease
• Signs & symptoms typically appear between the ages of 2 & 3 and may include:
▫ Frequent falls
▫ Difficulty getting up from a lying or sitting position
▫ Trouble running & jumping
▫ Waddling gait
▫ Walking on the toes
▫ Large calf muscles
▫ Muscle pain & stiffness
▫ Learning disabilities
Becker Muscular Dystrophy
• Signs & symptoms are similar to those of
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, but typically are milder & progress more slowly • Symptoms generally begin in the teens but may not occur until the mid-20s or even later
(Some) Other Types of MD
• Some types of Muscular Dystrophy are defined by a specific feature or by where in the body symptoms first begin. ▫ Myotonic. Also known as Steinert's disease, this form is characterized by an inability to relax muscles at will following contractions. Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy is the most common form of adult-onset Muscular Dystrophy.
Facial and neck muscles are usually the first to be affected
▫ Facioscapulohumeral (FSHD). Muscle weakness typically begins in the face and shoulders. The shoulder blades might stick out like wings when a person with FSHD raises his or her arms. Onset usually occurs in the teenage years but may begin in childhood or as late as age 40.
Other Types Cont…
▫ Congenital. This type affects boys and girls and is apparent at birth or before age 2.
Some forms progress slowly and cause only mild disability, while others progress rapidly and cause severe impairment.
▫ Limb-girdle. Hip and shoulder muscles are usually the first affected. People with this type of Muscular Dystrophy may have difficulty lifting the front part of the foot & may trip frequently. Onset usually begins in childhood or the teenage years.
Causes
• Certain genes are involved in making proteins that protect muscle fibers from damage.
Muscular Dystrophy occurs when one of these genes is defective
• Each form of Muscular Dystrophy is caused by a genetic mutation particular to that type of disease • Many of these mutations are inherited but some occur spontaneously in the mother’s egg or the developing embryo & can be passed on to the next generation
Risk Factors
• Muscular Dystrophy occurs in both sexes & in all ages and races however, the most common type,
Duchenne, usually occurs in young boys.
• People with a family history of Muscular
Dystrophy are at a higher risk of developing the disease or passing it on to their children
Complications
The complications of progressive muscle weakness include: • Inability to walk. Some people with Muscular
Dystrophy eventually need to use a wheelchair
• Shortening of muscles or tendons around joints
(contractures). Contractures can further limit mobility • Breathing problems. Progressive weakness can affect the muscles associated with breathing. People with
Muscular Dystrophy may eventually need to use a breathing assistance device (ventilator), initially at night but possibly also in the day.
Complications Cont…
• Curved spine (Scoliosis). Weakened muscles may be unable to hold the spine straight
• Heart problems. Muscular Dystrophy can reduce the efficiency of the heart muscle
• Swallowing problems. If the muscles involved with swallowing are affected, nutritional problems & pneumonia may develop. Feeding tubes may be an option.
Tests & Diagnosis
After your doctor finishes the medical history & physical examination, they may recommend:
• Enzyme tests. Damaged muscles release enzymes, such as creatine kinase (CK), into your blood. In a person who hasn't had a traumatic injury, high blood levels of CK suggest a muscle disease — such as muscular dystrophy.
• Electromyography. An electrode needle is inserted into the muscle to be tested. Electrical activity is measured as you relax and as you gently tighten the muscle. Changes in the pattern of electrical activity can confirm a muscle disease.
• Genetic testing. Blood samples can be examined for mutations in some of the genes that cause different types of muscular dystrophy.
Tests & Diagnosis Cont…
• Muscle biopsy. A small piece of muscle can be removed through an incision or with a hollow needle.
Analysis (biopsy) of the tissue sample can distinguish muscular dystrophies from other muscle diseases.
• Heart-monitoring tests
(electrocardiography and echocardiogram). These tests are used to check heart function.
• Lung-monitoring tests. These tests are used to check lung function.
Treatments & Drugs
• There’s no cure for any form of Muscular
Dystrophy but treatment can help prevent or reduce problems in the joints & spine to allow people with Muscular Dystrophy to remain mobile as long as possible. Treatment options include medications, physical therapy, & surgical
& other procedures.
Medications
Your doctor may recommend:
• Corticosteroids can help improve muscle strength and delay the progression of certain types of Muscular Dystrophy.
But prolonged use of these types of drugs can cause weight gain and weaken bones, increasing fracture risk.
• Heart medications are prescribed if Muscular
Dystrophy damages the heart.
Therapy
Several types of therapy and assistive devices can improve quality and sometimes length of life in people who have Muscular Dystrophy.
• Range-of-motion and stretching exercises. Muscular Dystrophy can restrict the flexibility and mobility of joints.. Range-of-motion exercises can help to keep joints as flexible as possible.
• Exercise. Low-impact aerobic exercise, such as walking and swimming, can help maintain strength, mobility and general health. Some types of strengthening exercises also might be helpful.
• Braces. Braces can help keep muscles and tendons stretched and flexible, slowing the progression of contractures. Braces can also aid mobility by providing support for weakened muscles.
• Mobility aids. Canes, walkers and wheelchairs can help maintain mobility and independence.
• Breathing assistance. As respiratory muscles weaken, a sleep apnea device may help improve oxygen delivery during the night. Some people
with severe MD may need to use a machine that forces air in and out of their lungs (ventilator).
Surgery
• Surgery may be needed to correct a spinal curvature that could eventually make breathing more difficult
Lifestyle & Home Remedies
• Respiratory infections may become a problem in later stages of Muscular Dystrophy. It’s important to be vaccinated for pneumonia & to keep up to date with flu shots
• Dietary changes haven’t been shown to slow the progression of MD but proper nutrition is essential because limited mobility can contribute to obesity, dehydration & constipation.
Indicated or Contraindicated
Many alternative treatments are often turned to for periodic, symptomatic relief for Muscular Dystrophy. In particular, massage therapy has been reported to ease a wide range of
MD’s symptoms including:
• Relieving muscle pain
• Relaxing tight or contracted muscles
• Increasing circulation in a deprived area
• Restoring some range of motion
• While never intended to replace or supersede a physician’s advice, adding regular massage therapy sessions to a MD management plan can help reduce spasms, ease chronically tightened muscles, and improve the person’s quality of life.
• INDICATED!!!
Sources
1. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-cond itions/muscular-dystrophy/basics/coping -support/con-20021240
2. http://www.medicalmassage.co.za/indicat ions.html 3. http://www.integrativehealthcare.org/m t/archives/2007/11/massage_therapy_2.h tml
4. http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_con ditions/bones/muscular_dystrophy.html 5. http://www.webmd.com/children/underst
• Muscular Dystrophy is a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness & a loss of muscle mass • In MD, abnormal genes (mutations) interfere with the production of proteins needed to form healthy muscle
• There are many different kinds of Muscular
Dystrophy
• Symptoms of the most common variety begin in childhood, primarily in boys
• Other types don’t surface until adulthood
Definition Cont…
• Some people who have MD will eventually lose the ability to walk
• Some may have trouble breathing or swallowing
• There is no cure for Muscular Dystrophy but medications & therapy can help manage symptoms & slow the course of the disease
Symptoms
• The main sign of Muscular Dystrophy is progressive muscle weakness
• Specific signs …show more content…
& symptoms begin at different ages & in different muscle groups, depending on the type of Muscular Dystrophy
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
• About half of people with Muscular Dystrophy have this type.
Although girls can be carriers & mildly affected, the disease typically affects boys.
• About one-third of boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy don’t have a family history of the disease
• Signs & symptoms typically appear between the ages of 2 & 3 and may include:
▫ Frequent falls
▫ Difficulty getting up from a lying or sitting position
▫ Trouble running & jumping
▫ Waddling gait
▫ Walking on the toes
▫ Large calf muscles
▫ Muscle pain & stiffness
▫ Learning disabilities
Becker Muscular Dystrophy
• Signs & symptoms are similar to those of
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, but typically are milder & progress more slowly • Symptoms generally begin in the teens but may not occur until the mid-20s or even later
(Some) Other Types of MD
• Some types of Muscular Dystrophy are defined by a specific feature or by where in the body symptoms first begin. ▫ Myotonic. Also known as Steinert's disease, this form is characterized by an inability to relax muscles at will following contractions. Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy is the most common form of adult-onset Muscular Dystrophy.
Facial and neck muscles are usually the first to be affected
▫ Facioscapulohumeral (FSHD). Muscle weakness typically begins in the face and shoulders. The shoulder blades might stick out like wings when a person with FSHD raises his or her arms. Onset usually occurs in the teenage years but may begin in childhood or as late as age 40.
Other Types Cont…
▫ Congenital. This type affects boys and girls and is apparent at birth or before age 2.
Some forms progress slowly and cause only mild disability, while others progress rapidly and cause severe impairment.
▫ Limb-girdle. Hip and shoulder muscles are usually the first affected. People with this type of Muscular Dystrophy may have difficulty lifting the front part of the foot & may trip frequently. Onset usually begins in childhood or the teenage years.
Causes
• Certain genes are involved in making proteins that protect muscle fibers from damage.
Muscular Dystrophy occurs when one of these genes is defective
• Each form of Muscular Dystrophy is caused by a genetic mutation particular to that type of disease • Many of these mutations are inherited but some occur spontaneously in the mother’s egg or the developing embryo & can be passed on to the next generation
Risk Factors
• Muscular Dystrophy occurs in both sexes & in all ages and races however, the most common type,
Duchenne, usually occurs in young boys.
• People with a family history of Muscular
Dystrophy are at a higher risk of developing the disease or passing it on to their children
Complications
The complications of progressive muscle weakness include: • Inability to walk. Some people with Muscular
Dystrophy eventually need to use a wheelchair
• Shortening of muscles or tendons around joints
(contractures). Contractures can further limit mobility • Breathing problems. Progressive weakness can affect the muscles associated with breathing. People with
Muscular Dystrophy may eventually need to use a breathing assistance device (ventilator), initially at night but possibly also in the day.
Complications Cont…
• Curved spine (Scoliosis). Weakened muscles may be unable to hold the spine straight
• Heart problems. Muscular Dystrophy can reduce the efficiency of the heart muscle
• Swallowing problems. If the muscles involved with swallowing are affected, nutritional problems & pneumonia may develop. Feeding tubes may be an option.
Tests & Diagnosis
After your doctor finishes the medical history & physical examination, they may recommend:
• Enzyme tests. Damaged muscles release enzymes, such as creatine kinase (CK), into your blood. In a person who hasn't had a traumatic injury, high blood levels of CK suggest a muscle disease — such as muscular dystrophy.
• Electromyography. An electrode needle is inserted into the muscle to be tested. Electrical activity is measured as you relax and as you gently tighten the muscle. Changes in the pattern of electrical activity can confirm a muscle disease.
• Genetic testing. Blood samples can be examined for mutations in some of the genes that cause different types of muscular dystrophy.
Tests & Diagnosis Cont…
• Muscle biopsy. A small piece of muscle can be removed through an incision or with a hollow needle.
Analysis (biopsy) of the tissue sample can distinguish muscular dystrophies from other muscle diseases.
• Heart-monitoring tests
(electrocardiography and echocardiogram). These tests are used to check heart function.
• Lung-monitoring tests. These tests are used to check lung function.
Treatments & Drugs
• There’s no cure for any form of Muscular
Dystrophy but treatment can help prevent or reduce problems in the joints & spine to allow people with Muscular Dystrophy to remain mobile as long as possible. Treatment options include medications, physical therapy, & surgical
& other procedures.
Medications
Your doctor may recommend:
• Corticosteroids can help improve muscle strength and delay the progression of certain types of Muscular Dystrophy.
But prolonged use of these types of drugs can cause weight gain and weaken bones, increasing fracture risk.
• Heart medications are prescribed if Muscular
Dystrophy damages the heart.
Therapy
Several types of therapy and assistive devices can improve quality and sometimes length of life in people who have Muscular Dystrophy.
• Range-of-motion and stretching exercises. Muscular Dystrophy can restrict the flexibility and mobility of joints.. Range-of-motion exercises can help to keep joints as flexible as possible.
• Exercise. Low-impact aerobic exercise, such as walking and swimming, can help maintain strength, mobility and general health. Some types of strengthening exercises also might be helpful.
• Braces. Braces can help keep muscles and tendons stretched and flexible, slowing the progression of contractures. Braces can also aid mobility by providing support for weakened muscles.
• Mobility aids. Canes, walkers and wheelchairs can help maintain mobility and independence.
• Breathing assistance. As respiratory muscles weaken, a sleep apnea device may help improve oxygen delivery during the night. Some people
with severe MD may need to use a machine that forces air in and out of their lungs (ventilator).
Surgery
• Surgery may be needed to correct a spinal curvature that could eventually make breathing more difficult
Lifestyle & Home Remedies
• Respiratory infections may become a problem in later stages of Muscular Dystrophy. It’s important to be vaccinated for pneumonia & to keep up to date with flu shots
• Dietary changes haven’t been shown to slow the progression of MD but proper nutrition is essential because limited mobility can contribute to obesity, dehydration & constipation.
Indicated or Contraindicated
Many alternative treatments are often turned to for periodic, symptomatic relief for Muscular Dystrophy. In particular, massage therapy has been reported to ease a wide range of
MD’s symptoms including:
• Relieving muscle pain
• Relaxing tight or contracted muscles
• Increasing circulation in a deprived area
• Restoring some range of motion
• While never intended to replace or supersede a physician’s advice, adding regular massage therapy sessions to a MD management plan can help reduce spasms, ease chronically tightened muscles, and improve the person’s quality of life.
• INDICATED!!!
Sources
1. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-cond itions/muscular-dystrophy/basics/coping -support/con-20021240
2. http://www.medicalmassage.co.za/indicat ions.html 3. http://www.integrativehealthcare.org/m t/archives/2007/11/massage_therapy_2.h tml
4. http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_con ditions/bones/muscular_dystrophy.html 5. http://www.webmd.com/children/underst