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Unfortunately there's currently no cure for any form of muscular dystrophy. Current treatment is designed to help prevent or reduce deformities in the joints and the spine and to allow people with these muscle disorders to remain mobile as long as possible.
Inactivity can only worsen the disease. Physical therapy and orthopedic may be helpful.
Physical therapy
As muscular dystrophy progresses and muscles weaken, contractures can develop in joints. This can affect the tendons which can become short, restricting the flexibility and mobility of the joints. The most important goal of physical therapy is to provide regular range of motions exercises to keep your joints as flexible as possible. The goal is also delaying the progression of contractures, and reducing or delaying curvature of the spine.
Medications
Doctors prescribe medications to treat some forms of muscular dystrophy:
- For myotonic dystrophy: mexiletine (Mexitil®), phenytoin (Dilantin®, Phenytek®), Carbamazepine (Tegretol®, Carbatrol®), quinine and procainamide (Procanbid®, Pronestyl®)
- For Duchenne muscular dystrophy: the anti-inflammatory corticosteroid medication Prednisone® may help improve muscle strength and delay the progression of Duchenne MD.
Assistive devices
Most of the patients have confirmed that braces can both provide support for weakened muscles of hands and lower legs and help keep muscles and tendons stretched and flexible, slowing the progression of contractures.
Other devices used are:
- canes
- walkers
- wheelchairs
- ventilator
Surgery
This is one of the most effective treatment tools, It may be extremely helpful in releasing the contractures that may develop. This may be done to relieve tendons of your hip and knee and on the Achilles tendon at the back of your foot.
Prognosis
The life expectancy of muscular dystrophy depends on the degree to which a person's muscles are weakened as well as how much the heart and lungs are affected.