Pediatric Muscular Dystrophy Program
Pediatric Muscular Dystrophy Program (Orthopaedics)
The Yale Pediatric Neuromuscular/MDA Program is one of only five pediatric clinics in New England that is supported, in part, by the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Families of children with muscular dystrophy or other childhood neuromuscular disorders can see a multidisciplinary team, which includes a neurologist, cardiologist, pulmonologist, orthopaedic surgeon, physical and occupational therapist, social worker, dietician, and care coordinator, as well as easy access to other specialties such as genetics. Basic diagnostic imaging, pulmonary function tests, and echocardiography occur on site. Members of the team may be seen together or separately, in one visit.
Our Services
Our doctors perform thorough evaluations of each new patient, checking sensation, muscle tone, range of motion, strength, gait, and balance. Depending on the child’s needs, they may perform or prescribe such tests as electrocardiography, electromyography, pulmonary function tests, and polysomnograms (overnight sleep studies).
The program offers care to children and teens with neuromuscular diagnoses, including:
- Becker's muscular dystrophy
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
- Duchenne muscular dystrophy
- Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy
- Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy
- Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy
- Myotonic dystrophy
- Myotonia congenital
Other services include:
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- Orthotics
- Pediatric diagnostic radiology
- Wheelchair maintenance
- Special scales for weighing patients in wheelchairs
- An onsite MDA representative to answer questions and provide additional resource materials
Our Team
Our specialists provide comprehensive evaluation and clinical care. The clinic is located in Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Specialty Center at One Long Wharf. One Long Wharf is a short drive from Yale New Haven Hospital and has free parking and easy access for individuals with impairments.