ALS

Living with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) presents unique challenges, but you’re not alone on this journey. At our clinic, we’re committed to providing support, understanding, and the highest standard of care tailored to your needs and goals.

Understanding ALS and Its Impact

ALS is a progressive condition affecting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, which can lead to muscle weakness, impacting mobility and daily activities. Our approach is centered on enhancing your quality of life and maximizing your physical capabilities through compassionate and comprehensive care.

As the disease progresses, it affects walking, use of the arms, speaking, swallowing and breathing muscles. While there is no cure for ALS, maintaining independence and function as long as possible is the goal of the rehabilitation team. Safety with walking and adaptation of assistive devices is critical to prevent secondary complications such as fractures from falls.

How therapy helps

Maintaining mobility: Physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy typically coordinate as a team for people with ALS, depending on their severity of symptoms and progression of the disease. Physical therapy focuses on improving and maintaining range of motion, strength, stamina, walking, and balance. In addition, our physical therapists will focus on making recommendations for adaptive equipment such as canes, walkers, wheelchairs, braces and other devices. The goal of physical therapy is to maintain safety with walking and independence for as long as possible.

Enhancing daily function: Occupational therapists focus on helping ALS patients with their upper extremity use, working on strength, stamina, the range of motion and function. Recommendations for adaptive equipment with grasping, reaching and writing are part of care. In addition, training and adaptation of daily living activities, such as dressing, eating, cooking, and work are modified as needed.

Breathing, eating and speaking support: Speech therapists focus on the muscles of the throat, mouth, and tongue as well as breathing. All this can help maintain safety with eating/drinking and improve the ability to communicate. Speech therapy also focuses on making adaptations for speech, communicating, eating and drinking.

Although ALS is a progressive disease, the use of physical, occupational and speech therapy can make a big difference in your quality of life, maintaining independence and function for as long as possible.

Schedule Your Visit

If you or a loved one is navigating ALS, we invite you to reach out. Together, we can explore how physical therapy can be part of your support system, aiming for the best possible quality of life.

Request an appointment or call us today at Affton, North O’Fallon,  St. Louis, Creve Coeur, Ellisville, Saint Peters, O’Fallon, Saint Charles, Warrenton & Wentzville, MO centers.

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