This chapter will begin with a short explanation of what Muscular Dystrophy is and a general information paragraph over each type of the major muscular dystrophies today. What is Muscular Dystrophy? Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a genetic disorder that weakens skeletal muscles, the muscles that enable the human body to move. People with muscular dystrophy have missing or incorrect information in their genes, which prevents them from making the proteins they need for healthy muscles. Due to fact that muscular dystrophy is genetic, it is not contagious or contractible from another person; a person must be born with the problem. Muscular dystrophy weakens muscles over time, so children, teems, and adults who have the disease can gradually lose the ability to do the things most people take for granted, like sitting up or bending down. A patient with muscular dystrophy may have symptoms as a baby or later on in their life. There are several forms of muscular dystrophy, each of which weakens various categories of muscles in a numerous number of ways: Duchenne muscular dystrophy, also known as DMD, the most common type of muscular dystrophy, is caused by the incorrect information with the gene that generates a protein called dystrophin. The function of this protein is to help muscle cells keep their strength and shape. Without the presence of this protein, muscles begin to deteriorate and a person’s health becomes weaker. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is one of the types that affect boys, and symptoms of the disease begin to show between the ages of two and six. Most children with duchenne muscular dystrophy will require transportation by wheelchair by the age of ten or twelve. Patients with duchenne muscular dystrophy may experience heart c... ... middle of paper ... ... and can lock the joints in painful positions. Often, teens are fitted with special braces to ensure flexible joints and tendons (the strong, rubber band-like tissues that attach muscles to bones). Surgery is sometimes used to reduce pain and increase movement from contractures. Because we rely on certain muscles to breathe, some teens with MD need respiratory aids, such as a ventilator, to help them breathe. Teens with MD also might need to be treated for problems like scoliosis, which can be caused by weakened muscles or muscles that are contracting or pulling too tightly. For some types of MD, medication can help. Guys with Duchenne MD may be helped by a medicine called prednisone, and teens with myotonic MD might use mexilitine to relax muscles. It's also important that people with heart problems caused by muscular dystrophy be monitored by a heart specialist.
DMD also known as muscular dystrophy is muscular disease that occurs on young boys around age four to six. Muscular dystrophy is genetically transmitted disease carried from parent to offspring. This disease progressively damages or disturbs skeletal and cardiac muscle functions starting on the lower limbs. Obviously by damaging the muscle, the lower limbs and other muscles affected become very weak. This is ultimately caused by the lack dystrophin, a protein the body produces.
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, also known as DMD, is the most common form of muscular dystrophy. Muscular dystrophy is a condition that is inherited, and it is when muscles slowly become more and more weak and wasted. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a form of muscular dystrophy that is very rapid and is most commonly found in boys. In muscle, there is a protein named dystrophin. Dystrophin is encoded by the DMD gene. When boys have Duchenne muscular dystrophy, they do not produce enough dystrophin in their muscles. This causes weakness in their muscles. Parents can tell if their child has duchenne muscular dystrophy by looking for various symptoms.
Studies have shown taping an ankle can limit range of motion if done correctly.1, 5 Another study done by Reut...
"Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Web. 20 May 2014.
Muscular Dystrophy Association. (2013). Stages of als amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. [online] Retrieved from: http://mda.org/disease/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis/signs-and-symptoms/stages-of-als [Accessed: 9 Jan 2014].
Symptoms: Up to the age of 1-3 years, affected boys have normal muscles that is they learn to stand and walk later than they are supposed to do and speech may be slow in development. Gowers sign is a sign that can be seen in boys. Hypertrophy of the calf muscles is also a characteristic sign of DMD (Alan E H Emery., 1998). Contractures at the knees and elbows are common and it will lead most boys to use wheelchairs by the age of 10, and end them dead before or at the age of 20. The commonest cause of death is cardiac muscles involvement that will lead to cardiac faliure and subsequentl to respiratory failure (Pryse-Phillips, William E. M. and Murray, T. J., “ A concise textbook Essential Neurology”. 4th ...
As motor neurons degenerate, this obviously means they can no longer send impulses to the muscle fibers that otherwise normally result in muscle movement. Early symptoms of ALS often include increasing muscle weakness, especially involving the arms and legs, speech, swallowing or breathing. When muscles no longer receive the messages from the motor neurons that they require to function, the muscles begin to atrophy (become smaller). Limbs begin to look thinner as muscle tissue atrophies (Choi, 1988).
There is no actual treatment or any pharmaceutical cure for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. The only way to cope with this disorder is to treat the side effects it causes and prevent any other complications that arise from the onset of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.
Initial Preview: Today we will discuss the definitions/types of Lupus, its causes/symptoms, and the difficulty in diagnosing this confusing disease.
Muscular Dystrophy is a genetic disorder in which your muscles drastically weaken over time. Muscles are replaced with “connective tissue,” which is more of a fatty tissue than a muscular one. The connective tissue is the tissue that is commonly found in scars, and that same tissue is incapable of movement. Although Muscular Dystrophy affects muscles in general, other types affect certain groups of muscles, and happen at different periods throughout a lifetime. For example one of the most common types, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, targets muscles in the upper thigh and pelvis. The disease is displayed throughout early childhood, usually between ages four and seven. This genetic disorder occurs only in boys. People have difficulty sitting up or standing and lose their ability to walk in their early teens. Sadly most people die by the age of twenty. A second common type, Becker’s Muscular Dystrophy affects the same muscles as Duchenne, but first appears in teenage years. Most people with Becker’s only live into their forties (Fallon 1824-1825).
It is estimated that 1 out of every 5,600-7,700 boys ages 5-24 have Duchene or Becker muscular dystrophy. (“Data & Statistics,” 2012 April 6) Muscular dystrophy is a group of genetic diseases defined by muscle fibers that are unusually susceptible to damage. There are several different types of muscular dystrophy some of which shorten the affected person’s lifespan. (“Muscular dystrophy: Types and Causes of each form,” n.d.) There is a long history of the disorder but until recently there wasn’t much knowledge of the cause. (“Muscular Dystrophy: Hope through Research,” 16 April 2014) Symptoms are obvious and can be seen as soon as a child starts walking. (“Muscular Dystrophy,” 2012 January 19) Although muscular dystrophy mostly affects boys, girls can get it too. (“Muscular Dystrophy,” 2012 January 19) There is no cure for muscular dystrophy but there are several types of therapy and most types of muscular dystrophy are still fatal. (“Muscular Dystrophy: Hope through Research,” 16 April 2014)
Chronic stiff neck can cause debilitating pain and difficulty in performing daily activities. Fortunately, drugs and therapies are available to help relieve pain and stiffness. Sometimes, the condition requires surgery. The treatment has a better chance of success when it starts preparation for use, particularly for children.
Dilated cardiomyopathy accounts for approximately 15% of heart failure cases in the under 75s (“Chronic Heart Failure”). Patients with Dilated cardiomyopathy are usually unaware of the disease until they experience the signs and symptoms of heart failure or they develop an arrhythmia.
This is an overview of the spinal deformation called Scoliosis. What Scoliosis is as a whole, as well as a breif mention of other spinal deformations that are in a similar catagory as Scoliosis. The causes of scoliosis, and how it develops in people who suffer from the deformation. How Scoliosis is diagnosed and the symptoms it causes people to suffer in cases that are both mild and severe; are all topics that'll be covered.
Flexibility is the amount of movement your joints can move. Stretching is the key to maintaining good flexibility. As you get older, your tendons begin to shorten and tighten, restricting your flexibility. By the time you hit your mid-twenties, your bones begin to harden and your joints have already set in place. This is not bad in any way. It also means that you’re less likely to have any dislocated joints throughout your life. However, your movement becomes slower and not as smooth. You find it much more difficult to do co...