Muscular Dystrophy

What is Muscular Dystrophy?

Muscular dystrophy is a collective term for a variety of neuromuscular conditions (more than 20), characterised by the progressive degeneration and weakening of muscles. Some muscular dystrophies are more debilitating than others.

This section therefore, will address the most common adult form, Myotonic Dystrophy, also known as Steinert's Disease and Dystrophia Myotonica.

In Myotonic Dystrophy, the muscle weakness is accompanied by a delayed relaxation of the muscles after contraction and by a variety of abnormalities in addition to those related to muscle.

What are the characteristics of Myotonic Dystrophy?

Unlike other conditions that make muscles weak, in muscular dystrophies it is not the muscle-stimulating nerves that cause the problem but changes within the muscle cells themselves. These muscle cells degenerate and are destroyed. This means they are unable to process the food and oxygen that is normally converted into the energy needed to make the muscle contract. Hence, the muscles do not work properly.

The first muscles to be affected in Myotonic Dystrophy are those pertaining to the face, neck, hands, forearms and feet (as opposed to the hip and shoulder muscles in other dystrophies). The myotonic symptom that is probably the most troublesome is the inability to release the hand from a grip.

Is there a treatment to arrest the progression of Muscular Dystrophy?

Although a great deal can be done to help limit the effects, there are no cures for these muscular dystrophies.

There is, however, medication that can relieve the Myotonia. Heart problems, cataracts and other abnormalities associated with the disease can also be treated.

Proper management, physiotherapy and dietary control are also effective methods of managing and relieving symptoms.


Are there any useful teaching and learning strategies for people with this physical disability?

For information on teaching and learning strategies, click [[TeachingLearningStrategies here]


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