Symptom management

Effective management of symptoms is one of the primary goals of ALS patient care (Miller and others 2009b).

Respiratory

Respiratory weakness can develop at any stage of disease progression and may cause shortness of breath, fatigue, impaired quality of life and somnolence. Dyspnoea is caused by weakened respiratory muscles – intercostals, diaphragm and abdominal muscles. read more

Swallowing

Dysphagia eventually affects about two thirds of people with motor deurone disease. It is caused by weakness and paralysis of the lips, facial muscles, tongue, larynx and pharynx resulting from affected trigeminal, facial, glossopharyngeal, vagus, accessory and hypoglossal nerves. read more

Communication

Dysarthria (impairment of speech production) is caused by weakness and paralysis of the lips, facial muscles, tongue, larynx, and pharynx resulting from affected trigeminal, facial, glossopharyngeal, vagus, accessory and hypoglossal cranial nerves. read more

Movement and joints

The degeneration of upper motor (UMN) and lower motor (LMN) neurons, leads to progressive weakness of bulbar, limb, thoracic and abdominal muscles (Andersen and others 2007) causing muscle weakness, stiffness and immobility. read more