Spinal muscular atrophy

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If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, you may be feeling concerned about what care you will need to help manage the condition.

What is spinal muscular atrophy?

Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a genetic neurological disorder that affects the motor neurons of the spinal cord, leading to progressive muscle weakness.

Characteristic signs of SMA include muscle wastage and weakness, slow reflexes, breathing problems, and difficulty carrying out daily activities.

Symptoms vary in severity from person to person and can range from mild to severe. Some individuals with SMA may require extensive medical care and assistance with everyday tasks.

There is currently no cure for Spinal muscular atrophy but there are treatments available designed to slow its progression and improve quality of life including physical therapy and medications.

The most common form of spinal muscular atrophy (Type 1) often develops in infants under six months. Other types of the condition generally appear later in childhood or adulthood; these include types two to four each with different levels of symptoms.

What care will you need?

If you have been diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, having a care plan can help you to maximise your independence and feel supported living with the condition.

Our care plans can be tailored to your personal needs and can help you with anything from cooking and cleaning to managing medication and monitoring your illness.

At Synergy Complex Care, we offer personalised care plans. If you or a loved one needs support, contact us today.

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Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic disease affecting the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and voluntary muscle movement. SMA involves the loss of nerve cells called motor neurons in the spinal cord and is classified as a motor neuron disease. There are a number of forms of SMA which means there is wide variability in age of onset, symptoms, and rate of progression.

Our specialist carers are trained to meet the individual needs of each client and can provide medication and clinical support as well as giving help with a series of everyday tasks, from cooking and cleaning, to getting to hospital appointments, as well as making suggestions about how to improve things such as mobility around the home.

Further information is available from Spinal Muscular Atrophy UK.

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