Page 24 - Mobility Management, November/December 2021
P. 24

ATP Series
SMA: What’s Next?
Genentech said. The patients on Evrysdi also showed improved upper-extremity function.
What to Expect Next
It will take some time to see how treatments will impact the personal mobility of people with SMA. But a study in Poland published in August 2021 offers insight into what they could experience.
Motor Function of Children with SMA1 and SMA2 Depends on
the Neck and Trunk Muscle Strength, Deformation of the Spine, and the Range of Motion in the Limb Joints was published Aug. 30,
2021, in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Researchers examined 27 children, ranging from
6 months to 15 years. Nineteen children had SMA Type 1, and eight had SMA Type 2. All participants were receiving drug treat- ments for SMA at the time of the study. Researchers examined the children’s motor function, range of motion, posture, and neck and trunk muscle strength.
“The results of this study show a strong relationship between motor function and the size of the scoliosis, severity of chest deformity, and oblique position of the pelvis,” researchers said. “Spine deformity, and the accompanying changes in the structure
of the chest and the position of the pelvis, was also correlated with the measurements of the strength of the muscles of the neck and trunk. Significant correlations between muscle strength, the deformation of the chest, and the oblique position of the pelvis have been demonstrated in children able to sit independently.
“The results indicate that the development of scoliosis in SMA patients adversely affects the motor function, range of motion, and muscle strength values and may influence quality of life. ... Due to numerous disorders associated with deformation of the spine, preventing the development of scoliosis and the accompa- nying changes in the musculoskeletal system should be consid- ered one of the main goals of treatment of children with SMA.”
Researchers suggested that an SMA patient’s mobility will ulti- mately depend on far more than a drug treatment’s success.
“The deterioration or lack of improvement in the functional status of a child does not have to result from the ineffectiveness of the pharmacological treatment used, but it may result from the progression of scoliosis, intensification of chest deformities, or increasing contractures,” the study said. “It is important to systematically assess the musculoskeletal system and to imple- ment early prevention aimed at preventing scoliosis and contrac- tures, as well as training to strengthen the muscles.” m
CRT INNOVATOR
Access 4u
Access4U Inc. manufactures modular aluminum ramps, threshold ramps, MINI ramps, and portable folding ramps for residential and commercial applica- tions. Our Enable series of modular ramps was awarded a 2020 HME Business New Product Award. We offer a complete line of ramps and accessories, such as stairs, gates, ground platforms, and picket railings to meet customer requirements and local codes.
The company was established in 2004 and has grown steadily by satisfying customer needs. Unique in the ramp world, Access4U has developed systems to create custom sizes and widths when necessary to “fit” a customer’s home. Assembly is simple and easy.
Access4U products are manufactured to the highest standards and when properly
installed are
compliant with
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), International Building Code (IBC) and ANSI A 117 requirements. All products are manufactured in the USA.
Access4U
(800) 355-7025
www.access4uinc.com
22 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021 | MOBILITY MANAGEMENT
MobilityMgmt.com


































































































   22   23   24   25   26