Iconic Symptoms Of Different Types Of Muscular Dystrophy

Walking On The Toes

Walking on the toes is one of the hallmark signs of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and it can also occur in Becker muscular dystrophy. In addition, patients with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy sometimes experience difficulty lifting the front of their foot from the ground. This leads to both tripping and toe-walking. In the case of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy patients, the toe-walking is because of the way the disease affects the legs. Many patients experience contractures in their feet that lead to a shortening of the tendons, limiting the range of motion of their ankles. When they stand, they aren't able to put their foot flat on the ground because their ankle can't bend that far. Some contractures can be helped through surgery, but they're likely to recur since the disease is progressive.

Read more about the symptoms of various forms of muscular dystrophy now.