Neuromuscular Disorder Care

UC San Diego Health offers the only program in San Diego providing comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for adults with genetic and acquired muscle and nerve disease.

Launched in 2016 by neurologist Chamindra Laverty, MD, our program includes regular, personalized care involving a neurologist and pulmonologist, with additional specialists available through referral.

What Are Neuromuscular Disorders?

Muscular dystrophies are a diverse group of genetic disorders that cause weakness of muscles throughout the body. This can result in impaired movement, breathing disorders and heart failure.

Similarly, spinal muscular atrophy and hereditary neuropathies cause weakness, pain and difficulty with walking and breathing in some cases.

These diseases can begin in childhood, but with improving therapies, many patients now reach adulthood. Muscular dystrophy may also be diagnosed in adults with new or longstanding muscle weakness.

We focus on providing advanced, compassionate care tailored to your needs if you have muscular dystrophy. This includes expert clinical evaluation, genetic testing, novel therapies, pulmonary function and sleep testing, and ventilatory support.

Learn More About Pulmonary Neuromuscular and Assisted Ventilation