Specialized Services

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The Muscular Dystrophy Clinic at UCSF Children's Hospital, sponsored by the Muscular Dystrophy Association, specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and research of muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular disorders, which affect muscles and nerves. Muscular dystrophies (MD) are a group of 30 inherited disorders, which cause the muscles that help us move to weaken and degenerate over time.

Our Muscular Dystrophy Clinic is the only center of its kind in San Francisco that is tailored specifically to children. It offers children and their family's access to doctors, nurses and therapists who are experienced in treating children with neuromuscular diseases. Because we realize that your child's needs are complex, we offer a team approach to care. This means that our team of experts includes a pediatric neuromuscular specialist, orthopedic surgeon, respiratory specialist, genetics counselor, orthotics specialist and physical and occupational therapists, who can address all aspects of your child's care in one place.

Unfortunately at this time, there is no cure for MD and many other neuromuscular diseases. However, there are various new therapies available to help manage the conditions and their complications. We work with each child and his or her family to develop an individualized treatment plan that aims to improve their mobility, comfort and quality of life. Treatments may include physical therapy, orthopedic surgery, medications and orthoses, or the supportive movement and stability devices.

In addition to providing exceptional care to each child, we offer the latest and most advanced tests for diagnosing suspected neuromuscular disorders, such as electromyography (EMG). Our patients and their families also benefit from genetic testing and counseling, which can help diagnose neuromuscular conditions and confirm whether a person is a carrier of the gene that causes the disorders. People with MD have incorrect or missing information in their genes, which prevents them from making the proteins they need for healthy muscles.

Our clinic also has an active research program that studies innovative therapies for neuromuscular disorders. Dr. Jonathan Strober, who directs the clinic, is investigating a nutritional supplement called creatine monohydrate as a therapy for children with neuromuscular and mitochondrial disorders.

For more information, please contact:

Muscular Dystrophy Clinic
Ambulatory Care Center
400 Parnassus Ave.
2nd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94143
Phone: (415) 353-2525
Fax: (415) 353-2466