In Duchenne muscular dystrophy, recognizable functional changes are often not seen.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not known
• D. Sometimes

Answer: (A)

In Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the disease begins with subclinical muscle pathology that can be well tolerated by the child for a while. The lack of dystrophin makes muscles fragile and prone to degeneration, but early on a child can often compensate and maintain normal daily function. Because of this, recognizable functional changes—like difficulty running, climbing stairs, or rising from the floor—may not be evident right away. As the disease progresses and proximal muscles weaken further, these functional limitations become apparent, often with signs such as a Gowers maneuver and a waddling gait. Thus, the statement is true: recognizable functional changes are often not seen early in Duchenne.