

What’s the difference between muscular dystrophy and muscular atrophy?

MUSCULAR atrophy is the medical term for muscle wasting. The most common cause is a lack of physical activity - for instance, after an injury or due to a disease that limits movement. Over time, the muscle in a leg or arm that can’t be moved may appear smaller than one that can. It can often be reversed by exercising the muscle, although this may involve help from a physiotherapist. Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of genetic diseases that cause progressive, irreversible muscle wasting and weakness. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is one of the most well-known, affects the whole body and reduces life expectancy.