Symptoms of muscular dystrophy vary greatly depending on the type of defect – and therefore type of Muscular Dystrophy. For example, symptoms seen with DMD are more severe and rapidly progressing than those seen in milder forms such as Becker muscular dystrophy. The most common type of muscular dystrophy is DMD and it typically presents at around 4-5 years with (1, 2):

• Gradual muscle weakness and wasting
• Delay of reaching motor milestones
• Loss of previous ambulation (ex. Standing/walking)
• Recurrent respiratory complications (due to abnormal breathing muscles)
• Cardiac abnormalities (usually by the age of 20)

People with the more severe DMD form typically become wheelchair-ridden by the age of 12, and usually develop severe complications due to cardiac and respiratory complications – rather than due to direct muscular problems (1).