Muscular dystrophy (MD) is the name given to a group of inherited or genetic neuromuscular conditions that cause muscle weakness and wasting of the muscles. Examples include Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Becker muscular dystrophy. MD is a progressive condition where muscle wastage gets worse over time.
There’s no known cure for any of the muscular dystrophies, but treatment can help to manage many of the symptoms and delay the onset or progression of symptoms. ReAble offers a tailor-made plan of care where exercise and rehabilitation form the mainstay of a person’s DMD treatment making it one of the best muscular dystrophy treatments in India.
Types of Muscular Dystrophy
There are more than 30 different types of muscular dystrophy. Most are caused by changes to genes involved in providing strength to the muscle structure. The main types are:
- Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)
- Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD)
- Congenital muscular dystrophy
- Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD)
- Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy
- Myotonic muscular dystrophy
- Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy
- Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy
Some of these types of muscular dystrophy are further divided into sub-types. For example, there are more than 20 types of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy.
From one type of muscular dystrophy to another, there is variation in the severity of the muscle degeneration and the way in which muscles degenerate.
Treatment For Muscular Dystrophy
As different types of MD can cause quite specific problems, the treatment you receive will be tailored to your needs. As your symptoms develop, the doctors treating you will advise on the muscular dystrophy treatment options.
For some types of muscular dystrophy, medication can help manage the symptoms of the condition. However, common consensus remains that personalised inter-disciplinary rehabilitation is most beneficial for management of muscular dystrophy.
Neuro Rehabilitation for Muscular Dystrophy Treatment
As MD progresses, it weakens your muscles and weak muscles means you gradually begin to lose mobility and strength. This not only affects movement but progresses to interfere with breathing and heart function. With ReAble rehabilitation programme, you will be cared for by a team of multi-disciplinary specialists that change as your needs change. The team would help with DMD Treatment and that for LGMD with:
- Mobility assistance (Physical Therapy)
- Breathing assistance (Cardio-Pulmonary Therapy)
- Use of physical aids (Occupational Therapy)
- Speech assistance (Speech Therapy)
- Swallowing and food assistance (Nutrition & Swallowing Therapy)
To help ease discomfort, reduce joint contractures, and prevent or delay scoliosis, physiotherapists offer advice on stretches and exercises, and the prescription of orthoses and other orthopaedic devices. Occupational therapists also provide advice on sitting positions and activities. Cardio-respiratory therapists will help build cardiac endurance and improve breathing as and when required. Such treatment can keep affected people walking for longer and maximise independence in daily living.
ReAble Rehabilitation programme for treatment of Muscular Dystrophy is conducted in three settings. You can chose based on your convenience or status of disease progression. These include:
