Padma Sivadorai is a geneticist based in Nedlands, WA, Australia. She works with families who are dealing with hard-to-explain health issues, especially those that start before birth or show up early in childhood.
Genetic conditions can affect lots of parts of the body. In many cases, that means muscle and movement problems, differences in how the joints work, or changes in how the body’s organs develop and function. Padma looks at the pattern of symptoms and helps connect the dots when the cause isn’t clear yet.
Some of the conditions Padma may help with include genetic muscle and movement disorders like congenital contractures, arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, fetal akinesia sequence, and cramp-fasciculation syndrome. She also supports families where there are muscle fibre or muscle function differences, such as congenital fibre-type disproportion, tubular aggregate myopathy, nemaline myopathy, and X-linked myotubular myopathy.
At times, the issues can be wider than muscle alone. That might include intestinal problems like intestinal pseudo-obstruction, or growth and feeding challenges such as short bowel syndrome. Some cases also involve congenital heart concerns, including a patent ductus arteriosus. Padma understands that these situations can be stressful and move fast, so the focus is on clear next steps.
Because genetic conditions can run in families, Padma’s work often includes helping people understand inheritance and what results can mean for future pregnancies. It’s not just about finding a name for a condition. It’s also about giving families practical information they can use in day-to-day planning and care.
Depending on the situation, the pathway may involve reviewing medical history, symptoms, and any existing test results, then discussing what genetic testing can and can’t show. Families are often juggling many appointments. So having one steady, calm point of contact can make a real difference while they work out what’s going on.
Padma is located in Nedlands and supports patients across Western Australia. If you’re trying to understand a genetic condition, or you’ve been told there may be an underlying inherited cause, she can help you make sense of the journey and the options ahead.
