Muscular dystrophy = muscle destroyer
31 October, 2000
This is the slogan that the Muscular Dystrophy Association wants all Australians to remember this month, Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Month (1 – 31 November).
‘In the United States, muscular dystrophy (MD) is ranked 3rd on the list of diseases affecting the population, but here in Australia, most people wouldn’t know much about it,’ said Association Executive Director, Boris Struk.
‘Although many may have heard the term, they wouldn’t realise that muscular dystrophy is actually the general name of a group of diseases that are characterised by the progressive weakness of muscles that control movement.
‘The term ‘muscular dystrophy’ actually covers 60 distinct muscular disorders and affects 1 in 1000 Australians – that’s a staggering 30,000 people,’ Mr Struk added.
All forms of muscular dystrophy are hereditary conditions with the genetic defect transmitted by one parent in some of the diseases, and by both parents in other types. But there are many cases of muscular dystrophy in families with no known history of the disease.
Muscular dystrophy can affect people of all ages. Although some forms first appear in infancy or childhood, others may not appear until middle age or later. The different types of the disease vary in the age at which you would notice muscle wasting, and in which muscles would be first affected.
There is no cure or specific treatment for any of the types of muscular dystrophy. Therapy to prevent contractions-in which shortened muscles around joints cause abnormal and sometimes painful positioning of the joints, appliances used for support and corrective orthopaedic surgery may be needed to improve the quality of life in some cases. When heart muscles are affected an artificial pacemaker may be needed to keep the heart beating.
The outlook for people with muscular dystrophy varies according to the type and speed of progression of the problem. For some, the disease may be mild and very slowly progressive, with normal life expectancy but for others, there may be more rapid progression of muscle weakness and the inability to walk.
‘The Muscular Dystrophy Association began 25 years ago, we have had National Muscular Dystrophy months for 5 years, but still, I’m sorry to say, there has not been what I would call overwhelming community support,’ said Mr Struk.
‘Our National Respite Camps have been going now for 43 years, completely run and funded by the MDA. These have received worldwide recognition, but we need to get that recognition and a groundswell of understanding and awareness going in Australia,’ Mr Struk concluded.
Last Reviewed: 31 October 2000
