Comprehensive care for muscular dystrophy (MD) and related conditions
MD is a group of more than 30 neuromuscular (nerve- and muscle-related) disorders that cause worsening muscle weakness and other symptoms that can become severe. At Texas Children’s Hospital, our specialists have advanced training and experience in managing these complex disorders. Our Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinic provides diagnostic testing, advanced treatments and complete follow-up care for infants, children, teens and young adults.
What is MD?
MDs result from specific genetic mutations (changes in genes) that affect proteins that strengthen and protect muscles. Different genetic mutations cause each type of MD, and they affect muscle groups in different areas of the body.
Some of these neuromuscular disorders occur in infants, children and teens, whereas others may not appear until middle age or later. MDs vary in which muscle groups they affect, how serious the symptoms are, how quickly they get worse, whether they run in families and other factors.
Our team specializes in all forms of MD, and some types we often treat include:
Spinal muscular atrophy: Disorder that affects specialized nerve cells (motor neurons) in the spinal cord that control skeletal muscles (muscles used for voluntary movement).
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: Disorder that affects peripheral nerves, which control movement in the arms and legs.
Myasthenia gravis: Disorder that affects nerves that control voluntary (intended) muscle movements, such as those in the eyes, mouth, face, arms and legs.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Disorder that begins in the nerves that control lower body movement and spreads to the rest of the body.
Congenital myopathies: Disorders that a child is born with, that affect the nerves that control skeletal muscles in various areas of the body.
Nationally recognized team for muscular dystrophy care
Our clinic is affiliated with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and we offer nationally recognized care for all types of MDs. Our team includes pediatric neurologists, cardiologists, pulmonologists, physical medicine specialists, orthopedic surgeons, social workers, a neuropsychologist, a psychologist and trained volunteers from the Blue Bird Circle, a unique organization of women volunteers created in 1923 to promote the well-being of humanity through the betterment of the community.
