Symptoms vary with 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. Muscular dystrophy can affect adults, but the more severe forms tend to occur in early childhood.
A physical examination and your medical history will help the doctor determine the type of muscular dystrophy. Specific muscle groups are affected by different types of muscular dystrophy.
Some types of muscular dystrophy involve the heart muscle, causing cardiomyopathy or disturbed heart rhythm (arrhythmias).
Often, there is a loss of muscle mass (wasting), which may be hard to see because some types of muscular dystrophy cause a build-up 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.
Becker's muscular dystrophy (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Becker''s muscular dystrophy is an inherited disorder that involves slowly worsening muscle weakness of the legs and pelvis.Benign pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy; Becker''s dystrophy.Becker''s muscular dystrophy is very similar to Duchenne''s m...Reviewer: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 12/17/2008
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (3 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an inherited disorder that involves rapidly-worsening muscle weakness.Pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy; Muscular dystrophy- Duchenne type.Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a rapidly-worsening form of muscular dystr...Reviewer: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 12/17/2008
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy is progressive muscle weakness and loss of muscle tissue.Reviewer: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 12/01/2008
Muscle biopsy (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A muscle biopsy is the removal of a small piece of muscle tissue for examination.This procedure is usually done while you are awake. The health care provider will apply a numbing medicine(local anesthesia) to the biopsy area.A needle biopsy involv...Reviewer: Thomas N. Joseph, MD, Private Practice specializing in Orthopaedics, subspecialty Foot and Ankle, Camden Bone & Joint, Camden, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 07/29/2008
Genetic counseling (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
The pregnancy is continued if the fetus is disease-free.If a genetic defect is found in the fetus, parents who decide to continue the pregnancy may be better prepared to care for the infant by educating themselves about the disease in advance. For...Reviewer: Diana Chambers, MS, EdD, Certified Genetics Counselor (ABMG), Charter Member of the American Board of Genetic Counseling, University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/11/2009
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