Muscular Dystrophy is a muscle disease which weakens the major muscles associated with movement.

In addition to the physical effects of muscular dystrophy, the disease can also affect a person’s moods and cause learning disabilities. There is no cure for muscular dystrophy. Current treatments are designed to address symptoms of the disease and to improve the quality of life of those who suffer from it. Treatments currently in use include physical therapy designed to promote as much muscle use for as long as possible and medication which is designed to slow down the progression of symptoms. Assistive devices, including braces, canes, wheelchairs, and walkers are often used to help people with muscular dystrophy maintain the ability to ambulate. In some cases, surgery and other treatments are used to help people with Muscular Dystrophy.

Muscular dystrophy is listed under the category of impairments known as Neurological – Medical Listing 11.13. The assessment of muscular dystrophy depends on the degree of interference with locomotion and/or interference with the use of fingers, hands and arms in the form of paresis or paralysis, tremor or other involuntary movements, ataxia and sensory disturbances, which occur singly or in various combinations.