Can you regain strength with ALS with exercise?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive condition that has no known cure. Over time, it slowly deteriorates your muscles, limiting your range of motion and even affecting your ability to eat food or breathe. While ALS has no cure, there are still treatments and techniques that can help. One technique you may want to try when you have ALS is exercise.

Exercising may seem counterintuitive if your muscles are deteriorating, but studies show that exercising doesn’t worsen any of your ALS outcomes, and it can help you maintain the most strength you can as the disease progresses. 

Living with ALS is challenging, but with exercise, you have the potential to improve your quality of life when you have this condition. 

Exercising when you have ALS

ALS progresses at a different rate in all of the people it affects. Some people may be able to handle certain exercises that others cannot. It’s important to speak with your health care provider for guidance if you’re looking for a place to start.

You can visit a physical therapist for assistance with your exercises. Physical therapists are licensed health care professionals who specialize in gentle exercises and other treatments that help people reduce pain and improve their range of motion. They can guide you through specialized exercises designed to target your weakened muscles that can help slow the progression of ALS.

Physical therapy exercises are more than about maintaining your leg and arm strength. As ALS progresses, it can affect your breathing and your ability to swallow food. Physical therapists can guide you through exercises that target these muscles so you can retain your ability to breathe and eat independently for as long as possible.

Visit Excel Sports & Physical Therapy for assistance with your ALS

Living with ALS is tough, but with the assistance of a physical therapist, you can slow the progression of the disease to improve your quality of life. Are you ready to start exercising to help manage your ALS symptoms? Our physical therapists at Excel are here to help. Contact our team today for more information about ALS exercises or to schedule an initial appointment.