Symptoms of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

What are the Symptoms of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy? Duchenne, the most common form of muscular dystrophy, progresses rapidly during childhood, but symptoms generally manifest between infancy and 6 years of age.

Boys affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy can begin showing signs of weakness in their limbs, particularly in the legs and pelvis. This weakness can manifest itself in the following ways:

-difficulty running, jumping or climbing stairs.
-frequent falls.
-Increased difficulty walking
-loss of ambulation (ability to walk) by age 10-12

Additionally, there are several physical signs of Duchenne including:

-Enlarged calves(pseudohypertrophy)
-Walking on toes, often as a “waddle”
-Walking “chest out”