Atrophy vs dystrophy. What are atrophy and dystrophy? Atrophy and dystrophy are both terms related to muscular functioning. Muscular atrophy is wasting of muscles due to loss of tissue while muscular dystrophy is a group of muscle diseases that have weakness in the muscles and leads to reduced mobility. Muscular dystrophy causes debility and the person becomes progressively disabled as they lose the power of movement.