Muscular Dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy often presents in early childhood and is a range of genetic disorders in which the muscle fibers are unusually prone to damage and become progressively weaker over time. Without frequent and repetitive exercise, the damaged muscles may contract and withdraw inwards, even becoming fixed in that position. Many persons with muscular dystrophy will need to use a wheelchair during the later stages of the disease, and they may have difficulties with swallowing and breathing. At the moment there is no cure for muscular dystrophy but there are several courses of treatment that can slow down its progression and alleviate to some extent the symptoms and discomfort of the disease.
General Symptoms
- Progressively worsening muscular weakness (the specific muscle groups affected and the age at which symptoms appear varies according to the different forms of muscular dystrophy)
- Falling frequently
- Difficulties in getting back up from a sitting or lying position
- Waddling
- Trouble with jumping and running
- Enlarged calf muscles
- Some learning disabilities
Some forms of muscular dystrophy have more specific symptoms:
- Lack of ability to voluntarily relax the muscles (myotonic muscular dystrophy or Steinert’s disease)
- frequent tripping over the front part of the foot (limb-girdle muscular dystrophy)
- sticking out, wing-like shoulder blades when the arms are raised (facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy)
- drooping eyelids and weakness of the eyes, throat, and face (oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy)
Treatments
As yet there is no cure for muscular dystrophy. External orthotic devices are a good means of keeping tendons and muscles flexible and stretched. Walkers, canes, and wheelchairs can extend mobility and help maintain independence.
Revivo Intensive Suit Treatment centers around relieving patient discomfort and extending the range of muscular motion and flexibility for as long as possible to prevent joint and spine deformities and to keep patients mobile to maximize their quality of life.