If you have recently found out that your child has muscular dystrophy, you might be understandably confused and concerned about the situation. Muscular dystrophy is a serious condition that requires management and care. Get to know some important information about muscular dystrophy in children. Then, you will be ready to do everything you can to support and care for your child as you all deal with their new diagnosis. 

There Are Many Different Types of Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy is a condition that has many different types or variations. There are over 30 different muscular dystrophy types, though there are 9 types that are considered the most common. Each type of muscular dystrophy can affect a person differently, might have different rates of degeneration, and can cause differing symptoms. 

When you discuss your child's condition with their doctors, be sure to find out which variation of muscular dystrophy your child has. This will help you to become more involved in their treatment and care and help you in any and all additional research you will do about their condition. 

Muscular Dystrophy Is a Degenerative Condition

It is important to have a realistic understanding and expectation of muscular dystrophy so you can better handle the situation. Muscular dystrophy is a degenerative condition, meaning that it will progressively get worse over time. Your child's muscles will weaken as time goes on and, as of yet, there is no way to go about stopping that or curing the condition. 

Be prepared for this to happen. If your child is young, they will get stronger for a while, and then their muscles will eventually start to weaken. This will not necessarily happen in a straight line.  In other words, there will be peaks and valleys in your child's muscle strength results. Sometimes, your child will plateau and no weakening will occur for a while. Other times, they might actually gain some strength. 

Physical Therapy and Other Treatments Are Essential

Even though your child has a degenerative disorder that is not curable, you cannot simply just let the disorder progress and not do anything about it. It is vital that you get your child treatments to gain and maintain muscle strength. 

Physical therapy is one of the best possible ways to get and keep your child as strong as possible. Your child will do stretches and exercises in regular sessions with their physical therapist at a clinic like Hands-On Physical Therapy. The therapist will also give you and your child exercises to do daily at home. They can also recommend other activities that your child can participate in to help them have fun while getting needed exercise. 

Other treatments can include occupational therapy, medications, respiratory therapies, and more. All of these work together to provide your child with the comprehensive support they need to thrive. 

Now that you know more about muscular dystrophy and your child, you can take the best possible care of them going forward.