Chiropractic and Muscular Dystrophy: Helping Extend the Quality of Life for Kids and Young Adults

By Donna Stark

Many of us experience certain moments in our lives when we feel like everything is good and that life couldn’t get any better. But in the blink of an eye, things can suddenly change and our world gets turned upside down in the process. For nearly 250,000 families in the United States, that upside-down world has hit them hard, and it happened when muscular dystrophy entered their homes.

What Is Muscular Dystrophy?

Muscular dystrophy is a group of genetic disorders that affect the muscles and their ability to function properly. These disorders (there are more than 30) vary in age of onset, severity, and pattern of affected muscles. Symptoms of this disease usually begin in childhood, but some types of muscular dystrophy start in adulthood.

Muscular dystrophy is a condition that progressively gets worse over time. Patients with muscular dystrophy often find it difficult to perform basic tasks related to daily living, but that’s not the worst of what they experience. Muscular dystrophy can also lead to issues such as decreased mobility, severe nerve and muscle pain, problems with hearing and swallowing, and significant respiratory and cardiac complications.

What Is the Lifespan of Those With Muscular Dystrophy?

Because there are many different types of muscular dystrophy, the life expectancy of patients may vary. Some forms of this disease advance quickly, which can result in severe and rapid decline of the patient. Some progress slowly, making the condition easier to manage. In a few cases, degeneration may even appear to stop, only to reappear and resume its damage later on.

Life expectancy is also impacted by the types of advances in healthcare the patient is exposed to, how well the patient reacts to those treatments, and how supportive the patient’s environment is.

With all these factors to consider, it’s easy to see why the effects of muscular dystrophy can vary so widely from one patient to the next and why each person’s journey is uniquely their own.

Common Forms of Muscular Dystrophy

Although muscular dystrophy isn’t particular about who it affects (it can occur in both sexes and all ages and races), those with a family history of it are at higher risk of developing the disease and passing it on to their children.

Here are some of the most prevalent forms of muscular dystrophy and the characteristics that set them apart from each other.

• Duchenne muscular dystrophy - Duchenne is the most common type of muscular dystrophy. It predominantly affects boys and is characterized by a rapid progression of muscle weakness and degeneration in the pelvis, upper arms, and upper legs. Eventually, it affects all voluntary muscles and patients rarely live beyond their 20s.
• Becker muscular dystrophy - Symptoms for this type are similar to Duchenne but they are less severe and occur during adolescence or early adulthood. This common type of dystrophy also progresses more slowly, with survival reaching into middle age.
• Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy - This type of dystrophy typically occurs in adolescence or adulthood. Symptoms include muscle weakness and muscle tissue degeneration around the shoulders and hips. The rate of progression is slow but it can lead to complicated heart problems and respiratory issues.
• Congenital muscular dystrophy - Congenital muscular dystrophy occurs at birth, or in infancy, and results in overall poor muscle function and tone. It can impact the nervous system and lead to possible joint deformities, learning disabilities, eye defects, and seizures. This type of dystrophy progresses slowly and may shorten the life span of the patient.

Muscular dystrophy can be particularly devastating for a family when it affects a child. The gradual loss of mobility and decline in health can be emotionally, physically, and financially challenging for everyone involved. It is vital to recognize the early symptoms of muscular dystrophy in children so a quick diagnosis can be obtained and treatments can begin as soon as possible.

Diagnosing Muscular Dystrophy

If you are worried about the risk of muscular dystrophy or suspect it in a loved one, it’s important to voice your concerns to your doctor. Your doctor may then require the following to ensure an accurate diagnosis is made.

• Medical and family history
• Physical examination
• Enzyme and genetic testing
• Muscle biopsy
• Imaging
• Heart and lung monitoring tests

Once a diagnosis has been determined, a comprehensive treatment plan will be designed to help target the patient’s individual needs and specific health concerns.

Treating Muscular Dystrophy

There is no cure for any form of muscular dystrophy but there are specialized treatment plans that can extend a patient’s mobility and muscle function, and help with certain respiratory and heart issues. These treatments include the following.

• Physical and occupational therapies to help strengthen and stretch the muscles
• Medications to help delay muscle weakness, improve lung function, and slow the progression of any heart problems
• Mobility aids, such as canes, braces, walkers, and wheelchairs to improve mobility and prevent falls
• Surgical procedures to relieve pain and tension, improve muscle function, and correct spinal issues
• Cardiac and respiratory treatments to slow the progression of complications related to the heart and lungs
• Speech therapy to help improve the function of facial muscles used when swallowing and talking
• Counseling to help the patient and their loved ones deal with the emotional and mental stressors associated with this disease

There are also many charities and organizations on the local and national levels that support individuals and families affected by muscular dystrophy. Ask your doctor or specialist for recommendations.

Chiropractic Care for Muscular Dystrophy

Chiropractic care is an all-natural approach to healthcare that focuses on the body’s musculoskeletal and nervous systems. It is often used in conjunction with the muscular dystrophy treatments listed above because it can offer several additional benefits. Here are just a few.

• Pain management - Routine chiropractic care may help alleviate the pain and discomfort often associated with muscular dystrophy by placing the body in proper alignment, easing muscle tension, and correcting joint dysfunction
• Range of motion - Chiropractic care can increase a person’s range of motion and extend their mobility by improving flexibility and joint function
• Stress and anxiety - Regular chiropractic adjustments may help reduce stress and anxiety
• Overall well-being - Chiropractic care helps to support a patient's overall well-being, and in doing so, can enhance the quality of their life

Although it may feel overwhelming to add yet another doctor to the list already being seen, The Joint Chiropractic makes the process of doing so a simple one. With extended hours and no appointment required, getting adjusted when it suits your schedule has never been easier to do.

Living With Muscular Dystrophy

The blink of an eye is all it takes for a life to be turned around, and with muscular dystrophy, there is no exception. This painful and progressive disease will certainly leave its mark but that doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can do to mitigate its damage and enhance the quality of your, or a loved one’s, life. Medications, physical therapies, surgical procedures, and chiropractic care should all be considered when faced with a muscular dystrophy diagnosis.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.