How to exercise for swallowing difficulties in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Written by Liu Hong Mei
Neurology
Updated on September 15, 2024
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Swallowing difficulties in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis primarily involve exercises for oral muscles. Improvement in the movement of oral muscles can alleviate symptoms of swallowing difficulties. Rehabilitation training for oral muscle disorders mainly includes enhancing the movements of the lips, tongue, and lower jaw. Individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis who have brainstem damage and medullary damage may experience swallowing difficulties, water drinking issues, and cough choking, primarily due to sensory disturbances in the throat. By utilizing temperature and sensory stimulation, the sensation in the patient's throat can be restored, allowing them to perceive the temperature and taste of food, thus reducing aspiration. After brainstem damage, the cricopharyngeal muscle does not open, which can be improved through balloon dilation and medication to enhance swallowing function.

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Can early-stage ALS be cured?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as motor neuron disease, is a condition that exclusively affects motor neurons without involving sensory neurons. Even if identified early, there are currently no specific medications to cure this disease; treatment can only be symptomatic and rehabilitative. Such approaches can alleviate symptoms. When symptoms are initially mild, medication can only slow down its progression but cannot cure it. The condition inevitably worsens gradually. Rehabilitative treatment can help reduce symptoms or delay the progression of the disease.

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Early symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) refers to motor neuron disease, with patients initially showing mainly reduced hand strength and clumsy fine motor activities, such as difficulty and lack of agility when using a screwdriver. There may also be atrophy of small muscles, such as the interosseous muscles of the hand and the hypothenar muscles, which are commonly seen in clinical settings. Some patients may initially exhibit symptoms like unclear speech, articulation disorders, and coughing or choking while drinking, which are important to recognize. As the disease progresses, the patient's generalized weakness becomes more apparent, with noticeable fasciculations and significant muscle atrophy developing clinically.

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Do people with ALS experience frequent muscle twitching?

Muscle twitching in people with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) can be very frequent. When muscles in ALS patients experience spasms, irritation, weakness, or fatigue, twitching is likely to occur. Muscle twitching in ALS patients is generally very frequent and is related to the disease. ALS, often referred to as motor neuron disease, is caused by degenerative changes in the central nervous system, such as the spinal cord and brain, leading to damage in the neuromuscular system, resulting in muscle atrophy, twitching, and tremors. It is advisable to seek medical evaluation and, once diagnosed, pursue active treatment which may include nutritional support, massage acupuncture, and functional exercise.

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Do people with ALS feel soreness and pain in their legs when lying down?

People with ALS often experience soreness and pain in their legs when lying down. In patients with ALS, certain neurons in the brain and spinal cord gradually degenerate and die, leading to muscle atrophy, nerve damage, muscle weakness, and stiffness, as if they are frozen. This muscle damage can lead to symptoms such as sore legs, general weakness, and fatigue. Over time, it may also cause difficulties in walking, speaking, eating, choking while drinking water, swallowing, and breathing. This can lead to systemic damage, complications like breathing difficulties, respiratory failure, and ultimately threaten life. The symptoms of leg pain and soreness in people with ALS, when lying down, can be alleviated through acupuncture, physical therapy, massage, and heat application.

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Is it necessary to perform a tracheotomy in the late stages of ALS?

Patients in the late stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) must undergo a tracheotomy because, by this stage, they have completely lost their motor abilities, including the muscle strength needed for breathing. Consequently, they lack the strength to breathe on their own, leaving them unable to survive without a ventilator. They must rely continuously on a ventilator to breathe as they cannot do it themselves. Therefore, if a ventilator is needed over the long term, a tracheotomy is necessary. This is because other methods, such as inserting tubes through the mouth or nose into the trachea to connect to the ventilator, are quite uncomfortable. Comparatively, tracheotomy offers a bit more comfort, making it a necessary procedure for connecting to a ventilator for long-term use and achieving greater comfort.