Tans femoral Amputee : Prosthetics Knee Joints.pptx
Als
1.
2. Lou Gehrig’s Disease is formally known as
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The
disease was named after Lou Gehrig, the
famous baseball player who died of it in 1941.
People with ALS have normal abilities to think
and their memories work fine, but their bodies
do not respond to commands from their brain
to move.
3. ALS occurs when neurons in the brain’s
motor cortex and in the spinal cord die. The
neurons that die are responsible for
controlling voluntary muscles and the ability
to move. The person will become weak and
paralyzed. There is probably a genetic link
because this disease runs in families.
4. It is difficult to diagnose ALS because the symptoms are
similar to those of other neuromuscular disorders, many of
which are treatable. The diagnosis is usually based on a
complete neurological examination and clinical tests. If a
person has ALS, the neurological examination would usually
show evidence of muscle weakness (either in small areas or
in more widespread areas, depending on how far advanced
the ALS is). The also would also would reveal if there is
muscle atrophy (wasting or loss of muscle tissue resulting
from disease or lack of use). The muscles may also be so
stiff when the doctor moves them that they continue to move
in abnormal ways afterwards. When the doctor checks the
“knee jerk” reaction, the movement of the leg is much quicker
than in normal patients. Because ALS affects voluntary
muscles, the exam usually does not reveal any differences
from normal in the sense (vision, hearing, taste, smell, and
touch).
6. There are several drugs to treat the symptoms of
ALS, but there is no cure. The cause is also still
unknown. There is some research to suggest a virus
may be involved.
