ALS Symptom Management
Have you or a loved one recently been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)? While this condition presents significant challenges, physical therapy plays a crucial role in ALS symptom management. Through personalized exercises and treatments, the Go Physical Therapy Balance Mobility Aquatics & Cancer Center therapists will work with you and other care team members to help improve your quality of life.
ALS is a progressive neurological disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness and eventual loss of control over voluntary movements. Although there’s no cure for ALS, physical therapy provides valuable strategies to slow the decline of function and help you stay active for as long as possible.
With the right approach, you or your loved one can continue to engage in meaningful activities and enjoy a higher level of independence. Today, we want to share some ways Go Physical Therapy Balance Mobility Aquatics & Cancer Center can help with ALS symptom management. And if you’d like more information, call our Grand Island, NE clinic to speak to our friendly staff!
Understanding ALS Symptoms in More Depth
ALS affects the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles. Over time, these nerve cells deteriorate, leading to muscle weakness and difficulty with movements like walking, speaking, and swallowing. ALS often begins with subtle symptoms such as muscle twitching or weakness in the hands, arms, or legs, but more muscle groups are impacted as it progresses.
Here are some additional ALS symptoms:
- Muscle cramps and twitching
- Slurred or slow speech due to weakened muscles in the face and throat
- Difficulty swallowing food or liquids
- Fatigue due to the extra effort required for movement and muscle activity
- Difficulty breathing due to weakness in the respiratory muscles
- Unsteadiness and falls due to muscle weakness and lack of coordination
- A reduction in muscle mass over time
The exact cause of ALS is still being studied, but it is known that the disease gradually affects the motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. As these neurons weaken and die, they can no longer send signals to the muscles, leading to muscle atrophy.
As a result, people with ALS face challenges with daily tasks, including walking, lifting objects, or maintaining posture. However, with proper ALS symptom management through physical therapy, you can maintain your mobility and independence for a longer period.
How Physical Therapy Helps with ALS Symptom Management
At Go Physical Therapy Balance Mobility Aquatics & Cancer Center, we’ll work closely with you, your caregivers, and additional healthcare team members to create an ALS symptom management program that meets your specific needs.
We’ll start with a comprehensive assessment of your balance, mobility, and muscle strength and will discuss your particular goals from treatment. This helps us create a tailored treatment program to manage discomfort, slow the condition’s progression, and help you maintain independence for as long as possible.
We pull from various techniques when creating our programs, including the following:
- Range-of-motion exercises to reduce stiffness and improve mobility
- Strengthening exercises to maintain muscle function
- Breathing exercises to support respiratory health
- Gait training to help you walk more comfortably
- Suggestions for assistive devices to help you maintain as much independence as possible
Living with ALS? We’re Here to Help
We understand how difficult it can be to live with ALS. However, physical therapy is essential in helping you manage your symptoms so you can continue to have a high quality of life.
Schedule an initial appointment today to learn more about how the Go Physical Therapy Balance Mobility Aquatics & Cancer Center team can help you or a loved one.