UNDERSTANDING BECKER MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY THROUGH AYURVEDA- A Case Report

Abstract

Muscles are a band of fibrous tissue in an animal body that has the ability to contract, produce movements and maintain the position of different parts of body. Myopathies are disorders with structural or functional impairment of muscle. There are majorly 3 types of muscles: Skeletal, Cardiac and Smooth muscles. Muscular dystrophy(MD) are a group of progressive hereditary degenerative diseases of skeletal muscles. The main cause of Muscular dystrophy is the mutation of gene which is responsible for healthy muscle function and structure. Most common symptoms are frequent falls, difficulty in rising from sitting or lying posture, trouble in walking and running, waddling gait, large calf muscles, muscle pain and stiffness, learning abilities etc. Diagnosis is mainly done by checking the level of creatine kinase in blood. Also genetic tests, Muscle biopsy and EMG are used as investigative tools in Muscular dystrophy. Physical and nonoccupational therapies, corticosteroids, mobility aids, heart and respiratory care and speech therapies are done in conventional practice. In Ayurveda, MD can be broadly corelated with karsyatha and mamsa sosha which is mentioned as a symptom in mamsavaha sroto vidhalakshana by Acharya Susrutha.Laghu,santharpana ahara and mamsa prayoga are the best methods to address the condition.Along with this bahya chikitsa and sodhana is very important to prolong the effect of treatment.

This article is a case report on Beckers Muscular Dystrophy where the patient is born in consanguineous marriage who started to develop symptoms like weakness of lower limb, difficulty in getting up from sitting posture and frequent falling from his age of 10. He was diagnosed with elevated Creatine kinase level in blood at the age of 18 and underwent OP management in both Allopathic and Ayurveda medicine for a period of 6 months. Here he was given Deepana, Pachana,Srotosodhana,Sodhana,Brhmana and Rasayana line of management. During the period of treatment his weakness of lower limbs and quality of life improved. The outcome were assessed using DMD-QOL-8D-pre and post-treatment assessment, Muscular dystrophy -Brooke scale for upper extremity and vignos scale for lower extremity and muscle bulk.Even though there is no known cure for MD, Ayurveda helps in improving the quality of life and slows down the progression of the disease effectively