Therapy for Neuromuscular Diseases

Neuromuscular diseases comprise about 60 hereditary disorders that cause irreversible and chronic muscle degeneration. These include motor neuron diseases, muscular dystrophies, diseases of the neuromuscular transmission junction, peripheral nerve disorders, inflammatory myopathies, and some metabolic and endocrine disorders.

Although neuromuscular diseases cannot be cured, they can be managed. The goal of our neurology staff is to help patients with these disorders increase their quality of life by regaining and maintaining physical mobility. An example of this effort is the department's new multidisciplinary clinic that allows patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, to meet once a month with experts in all aspects of the disease. The clinic emphasizes maintaining patients' activity and teaching their families how to support them most effectively. We also offer clinics for patients with muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular diseases.