DUCHENNE AND BECKER MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY
At Best Home Therapy we understand Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD). These are genetic conditions which affect the muscles, causing progressive weakness. They are usually diagnosed in early childhood. Often those effected would present with symptoms such as:
· Difficulty standing up
· Difficulty with walking, running or jumping
· Difficulty climbing stairs without support
· Frequent falls
· Early onset of fatigue and cramps with exercise
· May have some behavioural or learning disability (DMD mainly)
· Arched back posture
· Toe-walking due to calf tightness
· Weakness in thigh muscles
· Gower’s sign- the person uses their hands to climb up their legs
Diagnosis:
BMD & DMD are diagnosed by a succession of tests:
A blood test to check for the presence of creatin kinase,
A muscle biopsy and,
Genetic testing.
Management/Intervention:
Due to the wide variety of effects that muscular dystrophy can have on the body, Ongoing management and intervention requires a multidisciplinary care team. This may include specialists in:
o Neurology
o Cardiology
o Orthopaedy
o Pulmonology,
o Medical genetics,
o Physiotherapy, and,
o Occupational therapy
Equipment and adaptive devices may include:
o Orthotics for support
Goals of Management/Intervention:
· To maintain and improve quality of life
· To maintain the individual’s functional independence with activities of daily living, schooling, other social and community participation
Physiotherapy assessment:
Physiotherapy assessment is aimed at determining the most significant impairments. There are a range of various outcome measures which can be re-assessed over time including:
· The 6- minute walking test,
· North Star ambulatory assessment scale,
· Balance and other functional mobility tests to assess and monitor the progress of an individual.
Physiotherapy Management:
· Prescription of appropriate mobility aids
· Active and passive stretching exercises to maintain mobility and prevent muscle contracture
· Improving gait pattern (walking) and posture through feedback
· Low-impact muscle strengthening exercises, hydrotherapy, swimming program, balance and falls prevention program, breathing exercises and fatigue management
Call us for a chat or visit us in the clinic at 72 Maribyrnong st Footscray.
References:
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Physiopedia https://www.physio-pedia.com/Duchenne_Muscular_Dystrophy#cite_ref-17
Outcome measures in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: sensitivity to change, clinical meaningfulness, and implications for clinical trials Joana Domingos Francesco Muntoni https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.13634
Physiotherapy/ MD Australia https://www.mda.org.au/information/physio/