Prevention:

Genetic counseling is advised when there is a family history of muscular dystrophy. Women may have no symptoms but still carry the gene for the disorder. Duchenne muscular dystrophy can be detected with about 95% accuracy by genetic studies performed during pregnancy.

Risk factors

Muscular dystrophy occurs in both sexes and in all ages and races, but the most common variety usually occurs in young boys. People who have a family history of muscular dystrophy are at higher risk of developing the disease or passing it on to their children.