Last week, MPs and peers said NHS care for patients with the condition is often inadequate and not acceptable. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Muscular Dystrophy inquiry found huge variations in life expectancy, as well as long waits for wheelchairs.
- There are around 20 types of genetic muscular disorders, which include Duchenne, Becker, limb-girdle, facioscapulohumeral and oculopharyngeal
- The symptoms of muscular dystrophy and their severity vary depending on the exact condition and how old the person was when the symptoms first appeared. Generally, muscular dystrophy causes symptoms including difficulty walking, clumsiness, frequent falls, difficulty standing and breathing problems
- There is no cure for muscular dystrophy but there are a number of options to manage conditions and improve life expectancy. These can include exercise, physiotherapy, physical aids such as a wheelchair or leg braces, or surgery to correct postural deformities. As it is a progressive disease, the condition can affect children emotionally, as well as physically
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