What is the Difference Between Muscular Dystrophy and Myotonic Dystrophy

The key difference between muscular dystrophy and myotonic dystrophy is that muscular dystrophy is a group of nine genetic diseases that cause progressive muscle weakness and degeneration in muscles normally used during voluntary movement, while myotonic dystrophy is a muscular dystrophy that mainly causes progressive muscle loss, weakness, and myotonia.

Muscular dystrophy is a group of nine hereditary conditions marked by progressive weakening and wasting of the muscles. The different types include Becker, Duchenne, congenital, distal, Emery-Dreifuss, facioscapulohumeral, Limb-Girdle, myotonic, and oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. Therefore, muscular dystrophy and myotonic dystrophy are associated medical conditions.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Muscular Dystrophy 
3. What is Myotonic Dystrophy
4. Similarities – Muscular Dystrophy and Myotonic Dystrophy
5. Muscular Dystrophy vs. Myotonic Dystrophy in Tabular Form
6. FAQ – Muscular Dystrophy and Myotonic Dystrophy
7. Summary – Muscular Dystrophy vs. Myotonic Dystrophy

What is Muscular Dystrophy?

Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of nine genetic conditions that affect about 16 to 25 per 100,000 people in the United States. The common symptoms of these conditions may include muscle atrophy, difficulty walking, irregular gait, stiff or loose joints, permanent tightening of muscles, spasticity, muscle pain, fatigue, trouble swallowing, heart problems, curved spine, breathing issues, intellectual disabilities, and learning disorders. Mutations in genes such as DMD, BMD, LGMD, LMNA, COL6A1-3, CNBP, DMPK, PABPN1, SMCHD1, DNMT3B, and LIRF1 usually cause these diseases. These conditions can affect those between 3 and 60 years of age.

The conditions in the muscular dystrophy group can be diagnosed by physical examination, blood tests, electromyography, muscle biopsy, tests of muscle strength, reflexes and coordination, electrocardiogram, imaging tests such as MRI, ultrasound, etc, and genetic tests. Furthermore, treatments for these conditions in the muscular dystrophy group may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, respiratory therapy, medicines (Eteplirsen, anti-seizure drugs, drugs that turn down the body’s immune system, steroids, and creatin), and surgery.

What is Myotonic Dystrophy?

Myotonic dystrophy is the most common type of muscular dystrophy. The symptoms of this condition may include weakness of all muscle groups accompanied by delayed relaxation of muscles after contraction (myotonia), which mainly affects muscles in the face, feet, hands, and neck, slow progression, muscle atrophy, and weakness. Genetic mutations in genes such as CNBP and DMPK cause it. This condition normally affects those who are between 20 to 40 ages.

Myotonic dystrophy can be diagnosed through physical examination, creatine blood test, electromyogram, muscle biopsy, and genetic testing. Furthermore, treatment options for myotonic dystrophy may include medicines such as sodium channel blockers such as mexiletine, antidepressants, benzodiazepines or calcium antagonists, CPAP machines, neurostimulants (methylphenidate), cataract surgery, managing diabetes, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.

What are the Similarities Between Muscular Dystrophy and Myotonic Dystrophy?

• Muscular dystrophy and myotonic dystrophy are associated medical conditions.
• Both are characterized by muscle weakness and generation.
• Both can be diagnosed through physical examination, imaging tests, and genetic tests.
• They can be treated through medications, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and surgery.

What is the Difference Between Muscular Dystrophy and Myotonic Dystrophy?

Muscular dystrophy is a group of nine genetic diseases that cause progressive muscle weakness and degeneration in muscles normally used during voluntary movement, while myotonic dystrophy is a type of muscular dystrophy that mainly causes progressive muscle loss, weakness, and myotonia. Thus, this is the key difference between muscular dystrophy and myotonic dystrophy. Furthermore, muscular dystrophy can affect people between 3 to 60, while myotonic dystrophy can affect people between 20 to 40 ages.

The infographic below presents the differences between muscular dystrophy and myotonic dystrophy in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

FAQ: Muscular Dystrophy and Myotonic Dystrophy

Is muscular dystrophy the same as myotonic dystrophy?

Myotonic dystrophy is the most common type of muscular dystrophy. It causes progressive muscle loss, weakness and myotonia.

Does exercise help myotonic dystrophy?

Exercise cannot cure myotonic dystrophy, but it can help optimize function and build strength. Therefore, people with myotonic dystrophy can engage in moderate levels of exercise.

Summary – Muscular Dystrophy vs. Myotonic Dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy is a group of hereditary conditions that cause progressive muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass. These conditions are caused by genetic mutations that interfere with the production of proteins needed to form healthy muscles. Myotonic dystrophy is the most common type of muscular dystrophy that mainly causes progressive muscle loss, weakness, and myotonia. Moreover, muscular dystrophy can affect those between 3 to 60 ages, while myotonic dystrophy can affect those between 20 to 40 ages. So, this summarizes the difference between muscular dystrophy and myotonic dystrophy.

Reference:

1. “Muscular Dystrophy.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
2. “Myotonic Dystrophy: Medlineplus Genetics.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Image Courtesy:

1. “H NEUMANN AND FAMILY – MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY CHILD RECEIVING TORCH MONEY – M EDWARDS AT THE A J CELEBREZZE FEDERAL BUILDING CLEVELAND OHIO” (CC0) via Picryl
2. “Myotonic dystrophy muscle distribution” By Wenninger, Stephan; Montagnese, Federica; Schoser, Benedikt. – Core Clinical Phenotypes in Myotonic Dystrophies. Front. Neurol., 02 May 2018. (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia