Iconic Symptoms Of Different Types Of Muscular Dystrophy

Walking On The Toes

Walking on the toes is one of the hallmark signs of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and it can also occur in Becker muscular dystrophy. In addition, patients with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy sometimes experience difficulty lifting the front of their foot from the ground. This leads to both tripping and toe-walking. In the case of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy patients, the toe-walking is because of the way the disease affects the legs. Many patients experience contractures in their feet that lead to a shortening of the tendons, limiting the range of motion of their ankles. When they stand, they aren't able to put their foot flat on the ground because their ankle can't bend that far. Some contractures can be helped through surgery, but they're likely to recur since the disease is progressive.

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Difficulty Standing

The most common form of muscular dystrophy known to produce difficulty standing is referred to as Duchenne muscular dystrophy. An individual affected by this form of muscular dystrophy may experience frequent falls when attempting to stand, have trouble standing when going from a sitting or lying position, problems running and jumping, a waddling gait, muscle pain and stiffness, learning disabilities, large calve muscles, and walking on the toes. Individuals with another form of muscular dystrophy referred to as Becker muscular dystrophy may also experience difficulty with the action of standing. The most common muscles to be affected by weakness and a decrease in mass that produce problems with standing in an individual affected by muscular dystrophy include the glutes, quadriceps, and hamstrings.

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