Living with Becker muscular dystrophy
A genetic condition, mostly in males, that slowly weakens heart and skeletal muscles.
Understanding Becker muscular dystrophy
A lack of working dystrophin protein causes gradual damage and loss of muscle fibers. Symptoms can start anywhere from childhood to adulthood and slowly worsen. Sometimes heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy) is the first sign. Severity varies a lot between people.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Muscle weakness
- Trouble climbing stairs
- Changes in the way a person walks
- Falls
- Tiring easily and trouble with exercise
- Muscle aches or spasms
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists, genetic specialists and heart and blood vessel specialists.
- 3Consider genetic testing
Changes in DMD are linked to this condition. Genetic testing and counseling can help confirm a diagnosis and explain what it means for your family.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association, Muscular Dystrophy Association and Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists); Heart and blood vessel specialists (cardiologists)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association and other patient organizations
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
Changes in the DMD gene cause this condition. It is inherited in an X-linked recessive way.
Also known as: becker dystrophinopathy; becker muscular dystrophy, x-linked recessive; becker's disease; becker's muscular dystrophy; benign congenital myopathy; benign pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy
Patient organizations
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy AssociationBecker muscular dystrophy · United States
- Muscular Dystrophy AssociationBecker muscular dystrophy · United States
- Children's Cardiomyopathy FoundationCardiomyopathy · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Becker muscular dystrophy.
Explore research for Becker muscular dystrophy
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- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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