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Muscular Dystrophy in Scottsdale, AZ

The Scottsdale Stem Cell Treatment Center offers treatment for muscular dystrophy to the residents of Scottsdale, Phoenix, and the surrounding Arizona communities.

What Is Muscular Dystrophy?

Muscular dystrophy is the term used to describe a class of diseases that result in gradual weakening and atrophy of muscle tissue. The diseases are caused by genetic mutations that damage the body’s ability to make necessary proteins for proper muscle growth.

Of the numerous types of muscular dystrophy, the most common type appears during childhood. In many other varieties, the condition doesn’t become apparent until adulthood. Over time, some individuals affected by muscular dystrophy lose the ability to walk. Others experience difficulty swallowing and breathing.

Causes of Muscular Dystrophy

Certain genes are responsible for creating the proteins that prevent damage to muscle fibers. In muscular dystrophy, one or more of these genes fail to function correctly. All types of muscular dystrophy are caused by mutations that are specific to that variant of the illness. In many cases, these mutations are hereditary. However, some can occur for no apparent reason within an egg or embryo.

Symptoms of Muscular Dystrophy

The most prevalent sign of muscular dystrophy is gradual weakening of muscles. Other symptoms may occur at different ages and in different areas of the body, depending on which type of muscular dystrophy is at play.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Roughly 50% of all muscular dystrophy patients have the Duchenne type. While females may carry the damaged genes and may experience mild symptoms, the condition is far more prevalent in males. Approximately 33% of males with the Duchenne type have no family history of the disease, likely because it was caused by a random genetic mutation during gestation.

Symptoms often appear between the ages of two and three and can involve the following:

  • Falling frequently
  • Trouble getting up from sitting or prone positions
  • Difficulty jumping or running
  • Waddling
  • Toe-walking
  • Enlarged calf muscles
  • Pain and stiffness in the muscles
  • Learning difficulties

Becker Muscular Dystrophy

The symptoms of Becker muscular dystrophy are much like those of the Duchenne type, but symptoms are more gradual and less severe. Symptoms often start during adolescence but may not be apparent until the mid-20s or older.

Other Types of Muscular Dystrophy

Other forms of muscular dystrophy are defined by certain characteristics or the area of the body that is affected.

  • Myotonic: Also called Steinert’s disease, this version of muscular dystrophy prevents relaxation of muscles after contractions. It is the most common type of adult-onset muscular dystrophy. The muscles of the neck and face are often affected first.
  • Facioscapulohumeral (FSHD): FSHD usually starts in the shoulders and face. When someone with FSHD lifts their arms, their shoulder blades may protrude like wings. It typically starts during adolescence but can also start as early as childhood or as late as the 40s.
  • Congenital: Congenital muscular dystrophy affects both genders and is often noticeable from birth to two years of age. Some types of congenital muscular dystrophy worsen slowly and are only mildly debilitating. Others worsen rapidly and are severely debilitating.
  • Limb-girdle: The muscles of the hips and shoulders are often affected first. Individuals with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy may have trouble lifting the front portions of their feet and are susceptible to tripping. Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy typically starts in childhood or adolescence.

Muscular Dystrophy Treatment via Stem Cell Therapy

The Scottsdale Stem Cell Center has designed a specific deployment protocol to take advantage of the reparative characteristics of SVF, which contains an abundance of mesenchymal stem cells and growth factors. Treatment is deployed systematically and is believed to specifically target areas of damage. The procedure is performed as an outpatient procedure during the same appointment as the harvesting and procurement. The entire procedure lasts only around three hours.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of muscular dystrophy, please contact us at Scottsdale Stem Cell to find out whether STV or another form of stem cell treatment is right for you and your unique condition.

Written by Scottsdale Stem Cell Center