Muscular dystrophy is a group of genetic diseases that lead to progressive weakness and muscle mass loss. Muscular dystrophy is due to the mutation of the X chromosome. Each version is different but they all prevent the body from producing dystrophin, which is required to build and repair muscles. No treatment is available for muscular dystrophy but certain medications and therapies treat the various problems and slow down the progress of the disease.

If dystrophin, a muscle protein, is deformed or absent, the muscle building process does not work well which leads to the weakening of the muscles and muscle cells. The following are the different ways to treat muscular atrophy:

1. Physical therapy

This helps to keep the muscles strong and flexible; it combines a mix of stretching exercises and other physical activity.

2. Respiratory therapy

People suffering from muscular dystrophy do not realize they have little breathing strength – they find it difficult to breathe, fall prey to infection, coughing and pneumonia. A specialist can help to deal with this problem.

3. Speech therapy

Patients face the weakness of the throat and facial muscles. This therapy may help them to slow down the speech by pausing in between breaths.

4. Occupational therapy

This helps them to relearn the abilities and movements and teaches them to use utensils, wheelchairs and other assist devices.

5. Corrective Surgery

Corrective surgery may include getting cataract surgery, treating heart problems with a pacemaker for those suffering from myotonic muscle dystrophy.

6. Medication Therapy

Certain medications help to slow or control the symptoms. These may include Glucocorticoids; anticonvulsants for epilepsy, seizures and muscle spasms; Immunosuppressants is given to treat autoimmune diseases and delay further damage to dying muscle cells; and antibiotics help to treat respiratory infections.

7. Current research

It is important to know and understand the mechanisms of muscular dystrophy – muscular and genetic. A complete cure is still being researched.

8. Gene replacement therapy

This is just one-step towards treating muscular dystrophy. The specific gene connected with dystrophy has been found and the replacement gene could help recreate the dystrophin protein.

Utrophin protein is just like dystrophin but is not affected by muscular dystrophy. If this protein helps with the function, the disease may be halted or slowed down.

9. Altering protein production

When the dystrophin gene is read by the protein synthesis machinery and if it reaches mutation, it will stop the protein from being made. Various drugs are being researched so that it helps the protein making equipment to skip mutation and complete the protein and create dystrophin.

10. Medications to delay muscle wasting

Researchers are trying to attempt to slow down the muscle wasting process by this condition. A muscle can repair itself but they want to increase the repairs to slow down muscular dystrophy.

11. Stem cell research

Researchers are hoping to insert muscle stem cells, which will be capable of producing the dystrophin protein.

12. Myoblast transplantation

This is used in the early stage of muscular dystrophy. This method is used to replace and repair the faulty muscle fibers. The myoblast exhaust and the muscles are turned into connective tissue.