As symptoms, age of onset and severity can be significantly different from one person to another, the management of symptoms and recommended interventions strictly depend on how much the carriers are affected.
Children with clear symptoms of muscle weakness will require close follow-up at a specialist clinic and a multi-disciplinary approach, with the input of specialists, including physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
Women who experience muscle symptoms that affect their daily lives may also benefit from a multi-disciplinary approach in a specialist clinic, with input from a physiotherapist and family care advisor. However, adults with relatively minor problems may not need regular follow-up, providing their family doctor is aware of their problems and can refer them to the appropriate clinic should their symptoms become more severe.
For all carriers, it is important to keep as fit and active as possible. Regular daily exercise is better than occasional sudden bouts of exertion. Swimming is particularly recommended, as it provides gentle exercise to all body muscles without over-exertion.
Carriers of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy should have a heart check, including an echocardiogram, at the time of diagnosis and possibly every three to five years thereafter. Early treatment of heart problems (with drugs called ACE inhibitors and/or beta-blockers) can be protective for the heart muscle.