Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an inherited, progressive muscle disease caused by a lack of dystrophin. Early diagnosis, corticosteroids, heart and lung monitoring, rehabilitation and specialist support improve functioning and life expectancy.

• Learning to walk later, frequent falls or difficulty running and climbing stairs.
• Using the hands to climb up the legs when standing up, known as Gowers' sign.
• Follow the personal stretching and exercise plan; avoid exhausting exercise that loads muscles as they lengthen.
• Protect against falls and use aids in good time to conserve energy and independence.
• Call the same day for fever with a weak cough, breathlessness, swallowing problems, dehydration or sudden loss of function.
• For urgent GP care outside normal opening hours, call HAP 9252. Call Ambulance 912 only for an immediately life-threatening situation.