Diseases and Conditions
Muscular dystrophy
Medications
Lifestyle and home remedies
Overview
Symptoms
Causes
Risk factors
Complications
Diagnosis
Treatment
Coping and support
Preparing for an appointment
Causes
Certain genes are involved in making proteins that protect muscle fibers. Muscular dystrophy occurs when one of these genes is defective.
Each form of muscular dystrophy is caused by a genetic mutation particular to that type of the disease. Most of these mutations are inherited.