Himalayan News Service

Lalitpur, February 14

To highlight the crucial role of physiotherapists in the treatment of muscular dystrophy, the first national workshop on physiotherapy in muscular dystrophy was organised here today.

Muscular dystrophy is defined as a group of human genetic disorders characterised by progressive muscle wasting and weakening, and microscopic changes in muscles, which causes muscles to grow weaker and weaker until they stop functioning.

The primary problem of muscular dystrophy lies in the muscles and not the nerves that control them or the blood vessels that supply them or the bones that support them. The survival rate of patients is extremely low as death results from pneumonia, lungs and heart complications caused by weakness of the muscles.

"As there is no cure for muscular dystrophy as yet, utmost priority should be given to achieving and maintaining the highest quality of life for all individuals despite the process and progress of the disease," said Professor Dr JP Agrawal of the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. While CPK test, Electromayogram (EMG), muscle biopsy, DNA tests and carrier screening help in diagnosing the disease, treatment in the initial stage has been found to prolong the life span of a child.

Dr Rohit Pokharel from the Teaching Hospital, giving a presentation on the genetic aspect of muscular dystrophy said, "As there is no facility for genetic tests in the country, many children have fallen prey to this disorder."

"The disorder is often mistaken for paralysis, polio or witchcraft," said the chairperson of Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy Nepal (PPMD) and secretary of Muscular Dystrophy Foundation-Nepal (MDF-Nepal), Anil Kumar Upadhyay. "Due to this, people uselessly spend thousands of rupees seeking an alternative treatment." The workshop was participated by some 40 physiotherapists from around the country.