The Center for Genetic Muscle Disorders serves an important need within the muscle disorders community. It provides current interdisciplinary clinical care for patients by experts in muscle disease, while leading research programs to develop better and novel therapeutics to treat these disorders in the future. To accomplish these objectives, the Center has three arms: clinical care, clinical research and laboratory research.

The Muscle Disorders Clinic provides multi-disciplinary and individualized care for children and adults. Comprehensive care involves diagnosis and management of the disease by neurologists, cardiologists, pulmonologists, endocrinologists and rehabilitative therapists with muscle expertise. Unique strengths of the program include the option of participants to be involved in novel therapies and research, as well as their ability to remain in the program through the transition from childhood to adolescence and through adult life.

About Genetic Muscle Disorders:

There are dozens of different forms of genetic disorders of muscle, many of which are rare in the overall population. Major categories include muscular dystrophy, congenital myopathy and metabolic myopathy. At Kennedy Krieger, we have expertise in, and welcome those with, both rare and common disorders of muscle.

Visit the Programs & Services page for more information on some of the disorders of muscle we treat.

About the Center:

The Center for Genetic Muscle Disorders provides expert care for children and adults who have, or are at risk of developing, a muscle disorder from genetic causes, no matter the severity. We see children and adults with a range of disorders and diagnoses.

  • Muscular dystrophies: Duchenne, Becker, Facioscapulohumeral, Myotonic, Congenital, Distal, Emery-Dreifuss, Oculopharyngeal, Limb Girdle
  • Congenital myopathies: Central Core, Myotubular, Nemaline, Ullrich/Bethlem, RyR1
  • Metabolic muscle diseases: Mitochondrial Myopathy, Pompe Disease, McArdles Disease, Carnitine Palmitoyl Transferase Deficiency

Related Materials and Information:

"I know that this is a place where my son will get the care he needs as he grows up. Kennedy Krieger is going to open so many doors for Collin."

- Lilleen Walters, mother of patient