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Muscular dystrophy is a group of inherited disorders that cause muscle weakness and loss of muscle tissue, which get worse over time.
Inherited myopathy; MD
Muscular dystrophies, or MD, are a group of inherited conditions. This means they are passed down through families. They may occur in childhood or adulthood. There are many different types of muscular dystrophy. They include:
Muscular dystrophy can affect adults, but the more severe forms tend to occur in early childhood.
Symptoms vary among the different types of muscular dystrophy. All of the muscles may be affected. Or, only specific groups of muscles may be affected, such as those around the pelvis, shoulder, or face. The muscle weakness slowly gets worse and symptoms can include:
Intellectual disability is present in some types of muscular dystrophy.
A physical examination and your medical history will help the health care provider determine the type of muscular dystrophy. Specific muscle groups are affected by different types of muscular dystrophy.
The exam may show:
Some types of muscular dystrophy involve the heart muscle, causing cardiomyopathy or abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia).
Often, there is a loss of muscle mass (wasting). This may be hard to see because some types of muscular dystrophy cause a buildup of fat and connective tissue that makes the muscle appear larger. This is called pseudohypertrophy.
A muscle biopsy may be used to confirm the diagnosis. In some cases, a DNA blood test may be all that is needed.
Other tests may include:
There are no known cures for the various muscular dystrophies. The goal of treatment is to control symptoms.
Physical therapy may help maintain muscle strength and function. Leg braces and a wheelchair can improve mobility and self-care. In some cases, surgery on the spine or legs may help improve function.
Corticosteroids taken by mouth are sometimes prescribed to children with certain muscular dystrophies to keep them walking for as long as possible.
The person should be as active as possible. No activity at all (such as bedrest) can make the disease worse.
Some people with breathing weakness may benefit from devices to assist breathing.
You can ease the stress of illness by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems.
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 in boys, are deadly. Other types cause little disability and people have a normal lifespan.
Call your provider if:
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 done during pregnancy.
Bharucha-Goebel DX. Muscular dystrophies. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 627.
Selcen D. Muscle diseases. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 393.
UF Health research scientists make medicine better every day. They discover new ways to help people by running clinical trials. When you join a clinical trial, you can get advanced medical care. Sometimes years before it's available everywhere. You can also help make medicine better for everyone else. If you'd like to learn more about clinical trials, visit our clinical trials page. Or click one of the links below:
The purpose of this research study is to determine the potential of magnetic resonance imaging, spectroscopy, and whole body imaging to monitor disease progression and to serve as an objective outcome measure for clinical trials in Muscular…
The study will evaluate the safety and dystrophin expression following gene therapy in boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). It is a single-arm, non-randomized, open-label study
The LYNX study is a 2-part, multicenter, Phase 2 study of safety, pharmacokinetics and biomarkers in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy including a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled part A, followed by an open-label part B.
April 4, 2024
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Duchenne muscular dystrophy families, advocates and health care providers celebrated a milestone in March with the U.S. Food and Drug…
College of Public Health and Health Professions, +1 more
December 22, 2023
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida is the world’s top contributor to scientific knowledge and literature about a widely used gene therapy technique,…
Department of Pediatrics, +2 more
