Author Archives: Emily Jones

Michael, a patient I work with who has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), sits for extended amounts of time in his wheelchair as he is unable to stand. He transfers between his wheelchair and bed during the day and stays in his bed during the afternoon and night. Over the…

Over the past seven years, I’ve been working with a patient, Michael, who has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), toward many different goals. If we’re being honest, we have been experimenting on how to reach those goals since there is a lot unknown around physical therapy and SMA. While…

Physical therapy looks different for every patient with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) because treatment changes throughout their life as the disease progresses and different medications become available. With Michael, a patient I work with who has SMA, we’ve had many changes in our goals and approaches throughout the…

Coccyx, or tailbone, mobilization, internal and external, has been a helpful treatment for one of my patients, reducing  tailbone pain. For Michael, who has spinal muscular atrophy, treatments change as his body and other therapies evolve and as his disease progresses. Recently, we scheduled an…

One of my patients, Michael, who has spinal muscular atrophy, has continued to experience increased pain and pressure along his coccyx and into his right hip while sitting in his wheelchair all day. He is unable to move his lower extremities independently and is reliant on sitting in…

A patient I work with who has spinal muscular atrophy, Michael, continues to experience pain in his right hip with prolonged sitting since moving to a new wheelchair earlier this year. He has continued to lose muscle mass in his hip, leading to increased pressure on his sciatic…

As previously discussed, Michael, our patient who has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), spends all of his time sitting in his wheelchair or laying in his bed. With the lack of mobility and change in positions, he experiences a significant amount of stiffness in multiple joints and areas of his…

Michael, our patient who has spinal muscular atrophy, recently stayed at a local rehab center while his caregivers were out of town instead of having someone come stay with him like he has previously. His reasoning for this was he would have care whenever he needed it instead…

I’ve been on leave for a few months, while Michael, a patient I work with who has spinal muscular atrophy, has been working with other therapists at my office. Over the next few weeks, I will be returning as Michael’s primary physical therapist. My plan is to meet…

When a person lives in a home where they need help with everyday activities, they usually have an in-home caregiver or live in an assisted community. It is preferable that they are able to live in their home with help, as it increases comfort and a sense of independence,…