When you come to St. Luke’s, you’ll meet with our neuromuscular specialists, as well as physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors who specialize in muscle and bone issues that affect how your body moves.

If needed, your care team may perform electrodiagnostic testing to better understand how your muscles are working. We use different types of electrodiagnostic tests, including:

• Electromyogram: measures muscle function in those with muscle weakness
• Nerve conduction study: checks nerve function in those experiencing numbness, tingling or other unusual sensations

Your doctor will prescribe the best care that aligns with your diagnosis. Treatment options include:

• EMG-guided injections that deliver targeted medications for musculoskeletal pain
• Musculoskeletal medicine
• Neurorehabilitation for brain and spinal cord injuries or stroke
• Non-surgical management of joint and back pain
• Peripheral joint injections
• Spasticity management

The Providence St. Luke’s Physiatry & Neuromuscular Clinic provides a multidisciplinary team approach to caring for persons with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). Given that ALS can affect every person differently, the care involves diverse and specialized skills and knowledge.

Our approach utilizes a comprehensive, integrated medical and rehabilitative treatment program aimed at reducing the burden of the disease for both persons with ALS and their caregivers. The multidisciplinary clinic approach eliminates the need for persons with ALS having to visit multiple health care providers at different times and different places. Previous studies have shown that multidisciplinary teams improve the quality of life and survival for persons with ALS.

Our team leaders are fellowship trained in neuromuscular disorders, and board certified in electrodiagnostic medicine.  The team also has nurse practitioner, physical, respiratory and speech therapists, as well as a registered nurse, dietitian and social worker. The team meets after each clinic to discuss and implement a personalized treatment plan for each person.

The center is actively involved in research, including clinical trials and basic science studies. The center is sponsored by the ALS Association and works in collaboration with the Steve Gleason Institute for Neuroscience at the Washington State University Elson S Floyd College of Medicine.

ALS Clinics are held 1-5 p.m. the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association clinic at St. Luke’s Rehabilitation provides additional therapies and attention to specific needs for people with muscular dystrophy. This clinic provides access to doctors, therapists and other specialists to prevent and treat common complications of muscular dystrophy. With your input, the team develops a personalized treatment plan to help you live easier with this condition. Our experts deliver the highest level of care, which is why our clinic is certified by the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Our clinic helps arrange appointments with multiple doctors and therapists in one visit. Our coordinator is also a genetic counselor who can discuss the genetics of neuromuscular disease with you and your family. We use this information to tailor your care experience and anticipate your future needs.

The amputee clinic at St. Luke’s Physiatry and Neuromuscular Center provides ongoing support, additional therapies and attention to specific needs for people with amputations. This clinic provides access to doctors, therapists and prosthetists to prevent and treat common complications associated with amputations and prosthetic use. With your input, the team develops a personalized treatment plan to help you improve in function and thrive. 

Our clinic helps arrange appointments with multiple providers in one visit. This allows much improved communication between the various people helping provide your care, and it speeds up the process of obtaining needed information for insurance authorizations of equipment and supplies.