Signs and Symptoms
Asymmetric muscle weakness, cramping, and atrophy usually found with the hands
What are early lower motor neuron signs?
A chronic degenerative disease that produces both upper and lower motor neuron impairments
What is ALS?
A drug that appears to have an effect on the progression of the disease process
What is Riluzole?
ALS stands for
What is Amyotrophic Lateral Slerosis?
Indicators of upper motor neuron involvement (name two)
What are incoordination of movement, spasticity, clonus, and a positive Babinski reflex?
Average life expectancy after being diagnosed with ALS
What is 2-5 years?
Focus of physical therapy goals for patients with ALS
What is to maximize the patient's functional capacity?
Famous baseball player associated with ALS
Who is Lou Gehrig?
Remain preserved thoughout course of ALS
What are sensation, eye movement, and bowel and bladder function?
Percentage of people that live more than five years with ALS
What is roughly 25%?
Assesses fibrillation and muscle fasciculations to help assist with diagnosis of ALS
What is an electromyography?
Similar condition that distinguishes itself by the absence of dystrophin with skeletal muscles
What is muscular dystrophy?
Symptoms that may be exhibited with progression of the disease with significant deterioration within the brain and spinal cord. (name two)
What are paralysis of vocal cords, swallowing impairment, contractures, decubiti, and breathing difficulty that requires ventilatory support?
Demographic where risk for ALS is highest
What are men between ages of 40-70?
Appears normal until late in the disease process
What is a CT scan
Number of years Stephen Hawking lived with ALS
What is 55 years?
Areas where demylenation, axonal swelling, and atrophy occur and cause symptoms of ALS
What are the cerebral cortex, premotor areas, sensory cortex, and temporal cortex?
This occurs in the giant pyramidal cells of the cerebral cortex in patients with ALS
What is rapid degeneration and demylination?
Physical therapy interventions for ALS include (name two)
What are low-level exercise, range of motion, mobility training, assistive/adaptive devices, wheelchair prescription/training, and patient/family/caregiver training?
Multiple sclerosis, spinal cord tumors, progressive muscular dystrophy, lyme disease, and syringomyelia
What are other neurological conditions ruled out before definitive diagnosis of ALS?