Neuromuscular Disorders

Also known as: neuromuscular diseases.

What are neuromuscular disorders?

Neuromuscular diseases are a large complex group of different types of disorders (for example muscular dystrophies) which affect the cells in the spinal cord, the nerves, the junction between the nerve and muscle (neuromuscular junction) and/or the muscles, that allow for muscle movement.

What causes neuromuscular disorders?

In many children, the neuromuscular disorder is the result of a genetic mutation (defective, duplicated or missing gene) or are passed down from parents to children (inherited disease). Others are possibly the result of the body having an abnormal inflammatory immune response to an environmental exposure.

What are the symptoms of neuromuscular disorders?

Common symptoms (which may be stable or progressive over time and frequently present at birth though maybe unrecognized for a long time) of neuromuscular disorders include loss of muscle function, weakness, delay in acquiring motor skills, rigidity, twitching, muscle spasms, muscle pain and other symptoms.

What are neuromuscular disorder care options?

Most neuromuscular disorders have no cure, however some medications may slow the progress or decrease the intensity of symptoms and a broad group of specialist at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital are available to ensure that your child will receive the best possible coordinated management to help him/her achieve his/her maximum potential.

Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: February 05, 2020 03:04 PM