Muscular Dystrophies

What is muscular dystrophy in children? Muscular Dystrophy (MD) in children is a term used to cover several conditions of muscle diseases which are caused by a mutation in someone’s genes which leads to weakening and breakdown of skeletal muscles. Each can present with different severity and symptoms depending on an individual’s diagnosis. Probably the most well-known and most common is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).

Read on to learn more about muscular dystrophy, the types of diseases it can cause, and how physiotherapy can help children diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy.

How Does Muscular Dystrophy Present in Children?

Typically muscular dystrophy presents in children between the ages of 3-6 years. , There are multiple signs that may indicate that the child has muscular dystrophy. These include but are not limited to:

Delay in walking

Clumsy movement (for example, falling over regularly)

Finding it difficult to sit up or stand up

Weakness in the pelvic and shoulder muscles

Tip-toe walking

Difficult climbing or jumping

Losing skills that have previously been gained

If you’d like to find out more about tip toe walking, and at which point you may want to seek professional advice, read one of our recent blogs – ‘Why Do Children Walk On Their Tip Toes?’

What Diseases Are Considered Muscular Dystrophy?

Muscular Dystrophy is the group name given to a number of neuromuscular diseases, each with its own symptoms and impacts on a person. These are just some of the diseases that are classed as muscular dystrophy;

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)

Myotonic Dystrophy (DM)

Distal Dystrophy (DD)

Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy (EDMD)

Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy (OPMD)

Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD)

Probably the most well-known and most common disease associated with muscular dystrophy is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). It is estimated that every year in the world 20,000 children are diagnosed with DMD.