Author Archives: Emily Jones

When you begin working with a patient with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), it’s likely you will be working with them for several years. Over time, it is natural to form a bond with them, which will enable you to provide a more in-depth and more personalized treatment plan. It…

Over the past several months, we’ve been focusing mostly on improving comfort and flexibility for Michael, my patient who has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), in preparation for a potential new treatment from Scholar Rock called apitegromab, which is in a Phase 3 clinical trial. The…

Many patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) spend the majority of their time sitting in wheelchairs. Increased periods of sitting can lead to tailbone pain due to increased pressure on those areas. When these areas become stiff and painful, a little mobilization can lead to reduced pain and improved…

Electromyography (EMG)  is a test done with electrodes and/or needles inserted into or onto specific muscles to assess muscle activation at rest and during contraction. For Michael, my patient who has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), we performed an EMG on different muscle groups to assess resting and activation…

Michael, a patient who has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), has experienced reductions and increases in his lung capacity throughout his life due to his genetic disorder. This is a common occurrence in this population due to the disease’s progression on the muscles responsible for respiration. Just recently, this…

One of the first objectives we wanted to address when Michael, who has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), began physical therapy in 2017, was swelling in his feet and ankles. There are many ways we have addressed the swelling and edema in his legs, including reducing his salt intake.

A common complaint SMA patients have is that their feet swell due to a lack of circulation, as well as being seated in a wheelchair most of the day. In this position, gravity allows for the pooling of fluid in the feet. Since there isn’t much, if any,…

Previously, we have performed cupping and dry needling on different parts of Michael’s body to help with several ailments throughout his time in physical therapy. Recently, cupping has helped reduce pain and increase the range of motion in his cervical spine, or neck. Michael reported after cupping…

As previously mentioned in one of my recent articles entitled “Post-Surgery Care for SMA Patients Taking Physical Therapy,” Michael, my patient with SMA, recently went through an elective surgery to have a subcutaneous port implanted in his chest, to reduce difficulty receiving medications through intravenous lines. With this surgery,…

SMA News Today · #118: Aging and SMA   Long before Scholar Rock began its Phase 3 pivotal trial of apitegromab, the FDA had awarded Scholar Rock with…