Distal Muscular Dystrophy

Sports Medicine 15

Lena Phan & Carol Tran

Distal Muscular Dystrophy

Signs & Symptoms

Supports and Resources for this disorder:

Facts about Muscular Dystrophy

What is it?

Calgary Chapter : The Calgary Chapter is an organized, active chapter who never pass up an opportunity to fundraise, increase Muscular Dystrophy’s profile, educate the public about muscular dystrophy, and to support one another.

• The 2013 Walk for Muscular Dystrophy raised over $1.2 million. More than 6,600 people made muscles move by walk, wheel and rolling in this year’s event.

First described in 1902, distal muscular dystrophy (DD) is a class of muscular dystrophies that primarly affects the distal muscles which are the lower areas of the arm, hands, lower leg, and feet.

All the forms of muscular dystrophy are inherited and is caused by a mutation in any of at least eight genes that affects proteins necessary to the functions of the muscles. DD begins in either childhood or adulthood, and is slowly progressive. It is also not considered life-threatening.

The first sign of distal muscular dystrophy is weakness in the distal bones. Distal bones are the bones furthest away from hips and shoulders such as hands, feet, lower arms and lower legs. As time past, other muscle groups may be affected.

Muscles in the affected regions may decrease in size. Arms, legs and torso muscles may weaken to the point that mobility and range of motion is limited.

Some forms of muscular distrophy may affect muscles used for speaking and swallowing, while others may even be affected by the heart.

Walk for Muscular Dystrophy : The Walk for Muscular Dystrophy is a walk that takes place annually in 58 cities in Canada including Calgary to raise awareness and donations. Funds raised in the Walk for Muscular Dystrophy will support information, education and support, as well as funding for research and assistive devices.

• Patients that have MD have do not have the correct information in their genes. This prevents the body from making the proper proteins needed for healthy muscles. You have the problem at birth because Muscular Dystrophy is genetic.

Diagnosis

Resources

Treatments

• Distal Muscular Dystrophy. (n.d.). Muscular Dystrophy Association. Retrieved November 10, 2013, from http://mda.org/disease/distal-muscular-dystrophy

There is no cure for muscular dystrophy, but exercises and physical therapy can keep the muscles from tightening up around the joints. There is also medication available. People may also be required to use mobility aids (wheelchair, braces) and practice range-of-motion exercises.

Before diagnosing in any form of musuclar dystrophy, a doctor usually begins by taking a patient and family hurtory and performs a physical examination. Much information can be gathered from these, incuding the pattern of weakness. The results of the history and physical examinations can go a long way toward making the diagnosis, even before any complicated diagnostic test are done.

The doctor will also want to determine whether the patient's weakness results from a problem in the muscles themselves or in the nerves that controls them.

This picture represents were distal muscular dystrophy affects in the muscular system.

• Muscular Dystrophy Canada: Home. (n.d.). Muscular Dystrophy Canada: Home. Retrieved November 10, 2013, from http://www.muscle.ca/western-canada/home.html

• Safeway Walk for Muscular Dystrophy. (n.d.). Muscular Dystrophy Canada: Walk for Muscular Dystrophy. Retrieved November 10, 2013, from http://www.muscle.ca/western-canada/ways-to-give/fundraising-events/walk-for-muscular-dystrophy/

Corticosteroids is a type of medication that may help improve muscle strength and delay the progression of certain types of muscular dystrophy. But the use of these types of drugs for a long time, can weaken bones and increase fracture risk.

• Staff, M. (2012, January 18). Definition. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved November 10, 2013, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/muscular-dystrophy/DS00200/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs