Becker muscular dystrophy

Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) is a type of muscular dystrophy that causes muscle weakness in your thighs, hips, pelvis, and shoulders. It can also affect your heart. This inherited condition mainly occurs in people assigned male at birth, but people assigned female at birth can also have symptoms. Although there’s no cure, therapies can preserve your muscle function and improve your quality of life.

Penn Medicine is home to one of the oldest neuromuscular programs in the country, with top specialists who are experts in nerve and muscle disorders, including BMD. Our experts ensure you receive an accurate diagnosis and the latest treatments. At our Duchenne and Becker Carrier Clinic, which is part of the Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease, we specialize in cardiovascular care for people with the gene mutation that causes BMD, helping you live well with the disease for years to come.

Symptoms of BMD often begin between the ages of 5 and 15, but they sometimes start later in life. Your symptoms can range from mild or more severe and can include:

• Trouble walking by age 15, which gets worse over time
• Toe walking and enlarged calf muscles
• Arm and shoulder weakness
• Frequent falls and general lack of coordination
• Difficulty running, climbing stairs, and getting out of a chair
• Muscle pain and cramps
• Cardiomyopathy
• Breathing problems
• Learning disabilities

These symptoms can present differently in people assigned male at birth compared with people assigned female at birth. Males tend to have more severe symptoms, while females may have only mild symptoms and a higher-than-average risk of heart issues.

Becker muscular dystrophy is caused by a change (mutation) of the dystrophin gene. This gene makes a protein that helps protect your muscles from injury. In BMD, the protein doesn’t work properly, which leads to weakened muscles. The gene mutation can be passed from either parent through the X chromosome, but because symptoms can be mild, some people don’t know they have BMD. If the disease runs in your family, it’s important to talk to your doctor about genetic testing and counseling.

The dystrophin gene is also involved in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). BMD has milder symptoms than DMD and develops much more slowly.

BMD can’t be cured, but it can be managed with medication and rehabilitation. Physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and recreational therapy can help preserve your muscle function and mobility. Supportive therapies, like using mobility aids, can make daily living with BMD easier. In some people, surgery is needed to fix abnormalities in the bones, muscles, or tendons. Your care team may also recommend treatments to prevent or treat heart issues, like cardiomyopathy.

Some people with Becker muscular dystrophy can walk with aids, like canes or braces, as they get older, while others may need a wheelchair. If you have minimal or well-managed heart and breathing symptoms, your average lifespan may be similar to those without the disease. But having a weakened heart muscle due to Becker muscular dystrophy may shorten your lifespan.

Becker muscular dystrophy can affect multiple systems in your body, making a multispecialty team important to your care. At Penn Medicine, doctors with a variety of expertise provide BMD care, including neurologists, cardiologists, physical therapists, pulmonologists, and others. We also have specialists in genetic testing and counseling. As a team, they can give you a precise diagnosis and help you manage your symptoms, maintain muscle function, and prevent or treat complications.

Our doctors are also researchers actively studying new therapies for people with BMD. This means you have access to the latest treatments as soon as they’re available. Through our expertise and caring support, we guide you through every step of managing your condition for many years to come.