Spinal muscular atrophy is a genetic disorder that damages and kills motor neurons, causing muscle weakness and wasting. Motor neurons, which are nerve cells belonging to the spinal cord and lower part of the brain, are the ones responsible for controlling the movements of the body, such as the arms, legs, chest, face, throat and tongue. As a result, if motor neurons die, muscles waste away, and over time this affects walking, speaking, swallowing, and even breathing.
On the other hand, users who suffer from this disease have to deal with it every day and can help with the use of a wheelchair, but everything will depend on what type of spinal muscular atrophy the patient has. Manual and lightweight wheelchairs may be a good choice for children with type II age, as they provide independence and mobility, while also being able to use their strength with the upper limbs of your body. However, if the child’s muscles are weak, an electric wheelchair is needed.
Types of Spinal Muscle Atrophy
AME, known as spinal muscular atrophy, is an untreated neurodegenerative disorder that primarily causes death in children under the age of two. The patients concerned do not receive specific treatment to care for them, so it is extremely important to have special wheelchairs to help them on a daily basis. Because this disorder has different degrees of severity, the types of spinal muscle atrophy are
- AME type I: The most common and most serious type of AME, usually affecting infants, with symptoms before age 6 months. Even in more severe cases, symptoms appear before or after birth. This type of SOUL causes breathing and swallowing problems and, without treatment, the child may die before age 2.
- AME type II: This type of effect is moderate to severe, symptoms appear around 6 to 18 months of age. Usually, children with this type of disorder cannot stop or walk without help, but they can sit alone. This type of SOUL also causes breathing problems, and people live into adolescence or adulthood.
- AME type III: is mild and symptoms usually occur after 18 months of age. Children with these conditions can walk, get up, climb stairs, but they cannot run. This type of SOUL causes scoliosis and respiratory infections. With appropriate treatment, a child’s life expectancy is normal.
- AME type IV: rare and sometimes benign. Symptoms begin after age 21. This type of SOUL causes muscle weakness, shaking, and mild breathing problems. Over time, these symptoms worsen. The patient’s life expectancy is normal.
Importance of a wheelchair to children with spinal muscular atrophy
Spinal muscular atrophy is a disorder of motor neurons and is genetic. It is a type of debilitating disease that causes muscle atrophy. It affects mainly children, preventing them from doing activities as simple as ramping, breathing, walking, swallowing, and controlling the head and neck. This disorder occurs, on average, in 8 out of 100,000 children, affecting 1 out of 6,000 to 10,000 users worldwide.
Spinal muscular atrophy affects the muscles of the body, particularly the legs, so special equipment, such as a wheelchair, that is used to help the child move around is essential. Manual wheelchairs are a good choice because they provide independence and confidence, but if the child does not have enough strength in the arms, the best option would be an electric wheelchair. On the other hand, the bi-paddle wheelchair is excellent for adding independence and mobility, which can be used from 13 months.
Kalstein wheelchair
At Kalstein, we are a leading company in laboratory and clinical equipment, we have different types of wheelchairs, designed to meet the requirements and needs of users. We assure you that whatever type of wheelchair you buy, it will be characterized by high quality, as we as manufacturers of them make sure that this is satisfied. If you want to buy a wheelchair, we guarantee you that you will find with us the best prices on the market and at the same time high quality and technology. HERE are the features of our manual wheelchair model YR:
- Spray Frame.
- Fixed armrest.
- Fixed Footrest.
- Front wheel full.
- Rear wheel PU MAG.
- Handle with brake.
In our catalog, you can see all the chairs we have for sale and to buy them, you just have to quote HERE