Muscular Dystrophy is not a single disease but a group of hereditary muscle-destroying disorders. There are more than 30 types of these disorders, varying in their inheritance pattern, rate of progression, initial muscle attack, and age of onset.

The skeletal muscles are the main group of muscles affected in this disorder. The skeletal muscles are used during voluntary body movements. There is progressive weakness and degeneration of these groups of muscles.

The disease may occur in adulthood or childhood, but the more severe form tends to occur in early childhood.

It is an inherited disorder, which means it is passed down through generations in a family. Many cases occur from spontaneous mutation, that is not found in the genes of either of the parent, and this defect can be passed to the next generation.

The day-to-day activities of the patient are affected. Some of them are

Some types involve heart muscles, causing cardiomyopathy or disturbed heart rhythm (arrhythmias)