Becker Muscular Dystrophy is a genetic disease that causes the gradual destruction of several voluntary muscles, that is, the muscles that we can control, such as those of the hips, shoulders, legs or arms, for example.
It is usually more common in men and the first symptoms appear in childhood or during adolescence, starting with a slight and gradual loss of strength in almost all the muscles of the body, but especially in the shoulders and hips.
Although this disease has no cure, it is possible to have medical treatment to relieve symptoms and have a good quality of life and life expectancy of up to 50 years.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for Becker muscular dystrophy is done to relieve the symptoms of each person and, therefore, it can vary in each case. However, the most common forms of treatment include:
- Corticoid remedies, such as Betamethasone or Prednisone: help to reduce muscle inflammation while protecting muscle fibers and their volume. In this way it is possible to maintain the function of the muscle for a longer time; Physiotherapy: helps to maintain the movement of the muscles, stretching them and preventing them from becoming too tight. Thus, it is possible to reduce the number of injuries to muscle fibers and joints; Occupational therapy: sessions that teach how to live with the new limitations caused by the disease, training new ways to do basic daily activities such as eating, walking or writing, for example.
In addition, it may still be necessary to perform surgery, especially if the muscles become shorter or too tight, to loosen them and correct the shortening. When contractures appear in the muscles of the shoulders or back, they can cause deformities in the spine that need to be corrected with surgery as well.
In the most severe phase of the disease, it is common for more serious complications to appear, such as heart problems and difficulty in breathing, due to the destruction of the heart muscle and the breathing muscles. In such cases, a cardiologist and pulmonologist may be appointed to help adapt the treatment.
Main symptoms
The first symptoms of Becker muscular dystrophy usually appear between 5 and 15 years of age, and may include signs such as:
- Gradual difficulty in walking and climbing stairs; Frequent falls for no apparent reason; Loss of muscle mass; Weakening of the muscles of the neck and arms; Excessive tiredness; Loss of balance and coordination;
In most cases the child can stop walking until the age of 16, as the disease progresses faster in the lower limbs. However, when symptoms appear later than normal, the ability to walk can be maintained even between the ages of 20 and 40.
How the diagnosis is made
In most cases, the pediatrician can suspect this type of dystrophy only by assessing the symptoms and observing the loss of muscle tissue, for example. However, some diagnostic tests such as muscle biopsy, cardiac tests and X-rays can help confirm the presence of Becker Muscular Dystrophy.
What can cause dystrophy
Becker's Muscular Dystrophy arises due to a genetic alteration that inhibits the production of dystrophin protein, a very important substance to keep muscle cells intact. Thus, when this protein is low in the body, the muscles are unable to function properly, starting to appear lesions that destroy muscle fibers.
Because it is a genetic disease, this type of dystrophy can be passed from parents to children or arise due to a mutation during pregnancy.
