Muscular Dystrophy
Muscular Dystrophy
(APA style)
Abstract
Overview
Muscular dystrophy, MD, is a group of inherited muscle diseases that weaken the muscles that help the body move (Clark, 1995). There are nine major forms of MD. These are Myotonic, Duchenne, Becker, Limb-girdle, Facioscapulohumeral, Congenital, Oculopharyngeal, Distal, and Emery-Dreifuss (Wikipedia contributors, 2009). The type of disease is based on a few factors which are as follows: when in a person’s life MD appears, the degree to which the muscle is affected, how the disease came about, and the rate at which the symptom progresses. The cause of MD is linked to defects in certain genes and is determined by which gene is defective. This disease is inherited. In rare cases, muscular dystrophies aren’t inherited and occur because of a new gene abnormality or mutation (WebMD, 2005). The symptoms of the diseases vary depending on the type of MD. The main symptoms are progressive muscular wasting, poor balance, frequent falls, walking difficulty, waddling gait, calf pain, limited range of movement, respiratory difficulty, drooping eyelids (ptosis), gondal atrophy, scoliosis and finally the inability to walk (Wikipedia contributors, 2009). Symptoms are not always present for diagnosis. Often the disease is diagnosed based on the results of a muscle biopsy. Sometimes all that is needed for diagnosis is a DNA blood test. There is no cure for any of the muscular dystrophies (WebMD, 2005). However, there are forms of therapy that reduce the muscle degeneration caused by MD. The therapies also vary depending on the type of MD. Some of the forms of helpful therapy include the following: Physical therapy, occupational therapy, orthotic intervention, speech therapy, and orthopedic instruments (Wikipedia contributors, 2009).
Causes
According to Dowshen, Izenberg, and Bass (2002), all kinds of muscle dystrophy diseases are produced by the loss of muscle tissue caused by a genetic disorder. This loss of tissue is
(APA style)
Abstract
Overview
Muscular dystrophy, MD, is a group of inherited muscle diseases that weaken the muscles that help the body move (Clark, 1995). There are nine major forms of MD. These are Myotonic, Duchenne, Becker, Limb-girdle, Facioscapulohumeral, Congenital, Oculopharyngeal, Distal, and Emery-Dreifuss (Wikipedia contributors, 2009). The type of disease is based on a few factors which are as follows: when in a person’s life MD appears, the degree to which the muscle is affected, how the disease came about, and the rate at which the symptom progresses. The cause of MD is linked to defects in certain genes and is determined by which gene is defective. This disease is inherited. In rare cases, muscular dystrophies aren’t inherited and occur because of a new gene abnormality or mutation (WebMD, 2005). The symptoms of the diseases vary depending on the type of MD. The main symptoms are progressive muscular wasting, poor balance, frequent falls, walking difficulty, waddling gait, calf pain, limited range of movement, respiratory difficulty, drooping eyelids (ptosis), gondal atrophy, scoliosis and finally the inability to walk (Wikipedia contributors, 2009). Symptoms are not always present for diagnosis. Often the disease is diagnosed based on the results of a muscle biopsy. Sometimes all that is needed for diagnosis is a DNA blood test. There is no cure for any of the muscular dystrophies (WebMD, 2005). However, there are forms of therapy that reduce the muscle degeneration caused by MD. The therapies also vary depending on the type of MD. Some of the forms of helpful therapy include the following: Physical therapy, occupational therapy, orthotic intervention, speech therapy, and orthopedic instruments (Wikipedia contributors, 2009).
Causes
According to Dowshen, Izenberg, and Bass (2002), all kinds of muscle dystrophy diseases are produced by the loss of muscle tissue caused by a genetic disorder. This loss of tissue is
References: WebMD. (2005). Understanding muscular dystrophy – the basics. WebMD, LLC. Retrieved November 05, 2009 from http://www.webmd.com/parenting/understanding-muscular-dystrophy-basics