What is Primary Lateral Sclerosis?
It is a rare neuromuscular disease that affects nerve cells in the body causing slowly progressive weakness in voluntary muscle movement. It affects the legs first, followed by the body, trunk, arms and hands, and, finally the bulbar muscles (muscles that control speech, swallowing, and chewing).
What are the causes primary lateral sclerosis?
The exact cause is not known. The disease seems to begin after the age of 40 or 50 years.
Can physiotherapy help people with primary lateral sclerosis?
Yes. The focus of physiotherapy is to prevent joint immobility, slow than muscle weakness, improve balance and the quality of life of people living with primary multiple sclerosis.
What are the symptoms of primary lateral sclerosis?
Muscle weakness in the legs
Muscle stiffness in the legs
One leg is more affected than the other
Painful muscle spasms and spasticity
Difficulty walking – stumbling is common
Problems with balance – falling is common
Muscle cramps
General clumsiness
Speech disturbance
Slowness of movement
Muscle wasting
Trouble moving arms and doing tasks such as combing hair and brushing your teeth
Problems with swallowing
Loss of bladder control
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