Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Potential Benefits Of Physical Therapy For Individuals With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Rebecca Soito

Senior Honors Projects

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. ALS is associated with progressive motor deficits and paralysis of the muscles that control limb movement, swallowing, and breathing. As ALS progresses, the muscles responsible for fine and gross motor functions are affected and motor skills decline. Typical life expectancy of people with ALS is 2-5 years after symptom onset. The most common cause of death for individuals with ALS is respiratory failure. There is no current curative treatment for ALS but symptoms can be managed through multidisciplinary care. The …