Muscular dystrophy includes over 30 genetic health disorders. They are characterized by a continuous weakness in muscles and loss of muscle mass. Depending on the type of muscular dystrophy, its signs and symptoms may differ and appear at different ages and affect different groups of muscles. The treatments for muscular dystrophy involve different types of medication and therapies.

1. Symptoms of muscular dystrophy
The various symptoms are as follows:

• Waddling gait
  Owing to muscle weakness in the pelvic girdle, people suffering from muscular dystrophy might develop a waddling gait, a type of walk.
• Frequent falls
• People suffering from this health condition may tend to have frequent falls as well.
• Difficulty in running and jumping
  One might face a lot of difficulties carrying out activities such as jumping and running.
• Muscle stiffness and pain
  Patients might also feel pain and stiffness in their muscles.
• Learning disability
  Young children suffering from this disease might experience learning difficulties. Their development of speech may be slower than other children.
• Difficulty sitting up
  Patients might find it difficult to stand or sit up after lying down or sitting.

2. Health complications
Different methods of treatments for muscular dystrophy are administered to improve the quality of the affected person’s life. As the disease progresses, one may experience various health complications in addition to the already existing ones. They are:

• Difficulties in walking
  Some of the patients might need canes, walkers, or wheelchairs, owing to the complications which could make it difficult for the affected person to walk.
• Breathing problems
  Patients might experience severe breathing problems; they might need sleep apnea devices to help them breathe at night.
• The curvature of the spine
  This is caused when the muscles get weak and can no longer support the structure of the spine.
• Shortening of muscles and tendons around the joints
  This type of condition is also called contracture; it can restrict one’s movement.
• The weakening of heart muscles
  This type of health disorder can weaken the heart muscles, which might lead to cardiac problems.
• Difficulty in swallowing
  The muscles used to help swallowing food might get affected due to this condition, which, in turn, can lead to the development of aspiration pneumonia and nutritional problems.

Various courses of treatments for muscular dystrophy are available; these can help people control the symptoms.

3. Diagnosing muscular dystrophy
Various medical tests are conducted to diagnose this disease effectively.

• Enzyme assay
  Muscles that are damaged produce creatine kinase (CK). An increased level of CK, even without muscle damage, indicates the development of muscular dystrophy.
• Genetic testing
  As the mutation of genes is responsible for muscular dystrophy, this test is carried out to check for any changes. Diagnosis is particularly important to help determine the type of treatment required.
• Biopsy
  A portion of the muscle is removed and examined to look for any signs of the development of muscular dystrophy.