College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC) Practice Exam

What might be a visible symptom of muscular dystrophy?

1. Muscle spasms

2. Thinning hair

3. Waddling gait

4. Sore throat

The correct answer is: Waddling gait

A visible symptom of muscular dystrophy is a waddling gait. This condition involves progressive muscle weakness due to genetic defects, which results in muscle degeneration and loss of function. As the muscles responsible for movement become weaker, individuals may develop difficulty in walking, leading to an altered gait pattern. A waddling gait can be observed when the pelvic girdle muscles become weak, affecting balance and stability while walking. The other options do not correlate directly with the primary symptoms of muscular dystrophy. Muscle spasms might occur in various muscular conditions but are not defining characteristics of this particular disorder. Thinning hair is generally associated with different health issues and is not a primary visible symptom of muscular dystrophy. A sore throat is related to infections or other systemic illnesses and does not reflect the muscular degeneration caused by muscular dystrophy. Thus, a waddling gait stands out as a clear and significant observable symptom associated with this condition.