Becker Muscular Dystrophy
Disorder characterized by slowly progressing weakness in the of the legs and .
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About Becker Muscular Dystrophy
Becker MD is less severe than but closely related to . People with Becker MD have partial but insufficient function of the . There is greater variability in the clinical course of Becker MD compared to Duchenne MD. The disorder usually appears around age 11 but may occur as late as age 25, and affected individuals generally live into middle age or later. The rate of progressive, symmetric (on both sides of the body) and weakness varies greatly among affected individuals. Many individuals are able to walk until they are in their mid-thirties or later, while others are unable to walk past their teens. Some affected individuals never need to use a wheelchair. As in Duchenne MD, muscle weakness in Becker MD is typically noticed first in the upper and , upper legs, and .
Early symptoms of Becker MD include walking on one’s toes, frequent falls, and difficulty rising from the floor. Calf may appear large and healthy as deteriorating fibers are replaced by , and muscle activity….