Comprehensive management of children with muscular disorders.

As can be determined from a review of three of the most common diseases seen in a muscle disease clinic, the care cannot be given by only one or two specialists. The treatment programs involve a team. The team members have specific skills and functions. On the other hand, a team that works together can anticipate problems that other members of the team are most capable of handling. Early recognition of problems will minimize the difficulties that the patients will invariably encounter. The goal of the comprehensive management is to make the patient as self-sufficient as possible, for as long as possible, both physically and vocationally. This, obviously, is extremely helpful psychologically, both for the patient and the patient's family. Working with this population of patients, although occasionally depressing because of the inability to cure, can be extremely rewarding as one watches the accomplishments of the patients as a result of the interventions discussed.