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Therapeutic Exercises for ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is also called Lou Gehrig's disease after the baseball player who died of it in 1941. This neurological disorder eventually leaves patients unable to eat, speak, or breathe on their own.

Therapeutic exercises can ease muscle tightness and pain and give patients a better quality of life.

  1. Stretching Exercises

    • Stand with your back, heels, shoulders and head pressed against a wall. Move both feet forward and bend your knees so that your back slides down the wall a few inches. Tighten your abdominal muscles and push your lower back into the wall.

      Place both hands in the small of your back and bend backward, keeping your knees locked.

      Lie face down with your palms on the floor at shoulder level. Push up to raise the top half of your body, lower your body and repeat.

      Lie on your back with both knees bent. Grab one knee with your hands and pull it back toward the opposite shoulder until you feel a good stretch. Lower your leg to the floor and repeat with your other knee.

      Hold all of these stretches for at least five seconds.

    Neck and Trunk Exercises

    • If your neck and trunk muscles are weak, you won't be able to sit up straight and maintain good posture, which can result in pain and stiffness. Exercising the neck and trunk improves your spine mobility and makes good posture easier to maintain.

      Lie on your back with both knees bent. Lift your buttocks to a "bridge" position--making it as level as you can--while pushing down into the floor with your feet. Have someone hold your feet if you have difficulty with this exercise.

      Stand up straight and bend your head down so that your chin touches your chest. Hold for at least 5 seconds, raise your head back up and repeat.

      Keeping your head straight, push your chin back as far as you can, giving yourself a double chin. You should feel a nice stretch in the upper part of your neck.

    Arm Exercises

    • Arm exercises improve mobility in your arms, hands and fingers.

      With your palms facing up, move your thumb towards the tip of each finger.

      Sit in a comfortable chair, place your palms flat on your knees, spread your fingers, then bring them back together.

      Hold your hands out in front of you and turn your head, shoulders and arms to the right. Rest and repeat the exercise to the left.

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