Neuromuscular Disease

The Neuromuscular Disease Program at the Shands Jacksonville Neuroscience Institute provides comprehensive treatment of neuromuscular diseases, including:

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease)
• Facial and other cranial nerve palsies
• Muscle disorders
• Myasthenia gravis
• Neck and low back disease
• Nerve compression syndromes such as carpal tunnel syndrome
• Peripheral neuropathies

The program offers the latest in intervention, diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disease.

Evaluation and Diagnosis

The Neuromuscular Disease Program at the Shands Jacksonville Neuroscience Institute offers the following evaluation services:

• State-of-the-art neurophysiologic assessment including:
  • Nerve conduction/EMG studies
  • Single-fiber EMG quantitative sensory threshold determinations
  • Quantitative motor testing
  • Tremor analysis
• Neuropathologic assessment of nerve and muscle biopsies

University of Florida physicians are subspecialty trained in neuromuscular disease and neurophysiologic assessment. Our neuromuscular specialists perform over 2,500 nerve conduction/EMG tests annually and are highly trained in this important neurophysiologic procedure. Our physicians are available for outpatient consultation at the Shands Jacksonville Neuroscience Institute, the UF Neuroscience Institute at Emerson and at UF's multispecialty center in St. Marys, Ga.

Treatment Options

The Shands Jacksonville Neurmuscular Disease Program offers the following:

• A Peripheral Neuropathy Association-designated Neuropathy Center
• Physical and exercise therapy
• Speech and occupational therapy
• Inpatient/outpatient consultations
• Psychological counseling
• Educational and support group programs in ALS, peripheral neuropathy and myasthenia gravis
• Pioneering research