Wendy Henderson,  —

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a genetic disease where the muscles in the face, shoulder blades, and upper arms become severely weakened over time, although other muscles can also be involved. The symptoms usually start before the age of 20 but facial weakness can begin in childhood. According to the…

Around the world, researchers are working tirelessly to come up with new treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy which will help slow down, stop, or reverse the devastating effects of the disease. There are a number of different areas that scientists are currently working on, which range from repairing muscle damage to protecting…

When James Baxter-O’Shea and his family moved from suburban Sydney to a small country town called Oberon, they were overwhelmed by the welcome they received. MORE: Inspirational young people with muscular dystrophy: Hayleigh Barclay However, since the family’s 18-year-old minivan’s so unreliable, the 21-year-old found that he was spending more and more…

This Muscular Dystrophy UK video is all about Robert Watson from Renfrew, Scotland. The 29-year-old was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy 23 years ago, when he was just six years old. In his spare time, Robert likes to play powerchair football and socialize with his friends at nightclubs, concerts…

The name mitochondrial myopathy comes from the specific part of the cell the disease affects, called the mitochondria, which are small energy factories found inside most cells in our body. MORE: Remembering Mattie Stepanek “Myopathy” comes from two words: “myo” meaning muscle, and “pathy” meaning disease. If you put those…

Mattie Stepanek’s story is well-known in the MD community. Mattie was the youngest of four children, all of whom died in childhood from complications due to the genetic neuromuscular disorder, dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy. MORE: Musclar dystrophy quote: Mattie Stepanek Mattie touched the hearts of millions of Americans and was a…

The Muscular Dystrophy Association, in collaboration with the Lewin Group, has calculated the average cost of caring for three of the most common neuromuscular disorders. MORE: Study reveals wide global disparities in prevalence, burden, cost, and treatment of DMD. The study looks at both medical and…

This video from Muscular Dystrophy UK is all about 16-year-old Karis Williamson from Inverness, Scotland. Karis used to love going to school, but as she got older, she found it frustrating and felt like an unvalued member of the class. Feeling left out and like a burden, she…

A neuromuscular disorder diagnosis will have a profound effect on the whole family. Younger siblings often don’t fully understand what a neuromuscular disorder is or what it means for their brother or sister. MORE: How to talk to your child about their neuromuscular disorder.  It’s best to be upfront and…

This video from Muscular Dystrophy UK is all about Hayleigh Barclay. Hayleigh is a 27-year-old woman from South Ayrshire, Scotland, who has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 2. MORE: Teen with muscular dystrophy launches YouTube gaming channel to highlight the disease.  Hayleigh’s passion is music and film.