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Muscular Dystrophy is a group of over 30 other inherited diseases. These diseases are ones that cause muscle weakness and muscle loss.

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This image shows what the size of a normal bicep would be on the left. On the right there is an image of the bicep that is less than half the normal size which shows what it looks like when someone has muscular dystrophy.

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Usually MD appears in a person's early childhood or during infancy, though it is possible that in some cases it appears during middle age. This disease occurs in all genders and races. People who have a family history with MD are usually more at risk to inherit it and pass it on to their children. It can be originally caused by a lack in a certain gene that is involved in making proteins to protect the muscle fibers from damage.

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Signs of a person having MD include

pain areas in the muscles

abnormalities walking

flaccid muscles

muscle weakness

loss of muscle

permanent shortening of muscle

Symptoms of a person having MD include

the main symptom of MD is progressive muscle weakness

muscle pain and stiffness

learning disabilities

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MD is diagnosed through a physical exam, analysis of family history and tests such as muscle biopsies, DNA testing, and nerve conduction tests.

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There is no way to prevent MD. Exercise and physical therapy can assist with loosening up the muscles and joints that are affected.

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There is no known way to treat a person who has MD although it is suggested that they go to physical therapy in order to keep the joints and muscles from tightening up.

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The prognosis for people with MD varies according to the type and progression of the disorder. Some cases may be mild and progress very slowly over a normal lifespan, while others produce severe muscle weakness, functional disability, and loss of the ability to walk.

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How the disease affects the muscular system

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How the disease affects the muscular system

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https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/DMD
The DMD gene is the largest known human gene. It provides instructions for making a protein called dystrophin. This protein is located primarily in muscles used for movement and in the cardiac muscles. In skeletal and cardiac muscles, dystrophin is part of a group of proteins that work together to strengthen muscle fibers and protect them from injury as muscles contract and relax. When a person has muscular dystrophy they are lacking this gene which makes the muscles weaker with time.

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“Muscular Dystrophy | MD | MedlinePlus.” MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You, medlineplus.gov/musculardystrophy.html

“Muscular Dystrophy Prognosis.” My Child Without Limits RSS, www.mychildwithoutlimits.org/understand/muscular-dystrophy/muscular-dystrophy-prognosis/

NHS Choices, NHS, www.nhs.uk/conditions/muscular-dystrophy/causes/