The role of therapeutic exercise as a means of intervention for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) leads to paralysis and premature death within an average of 3-5 years from the onset of symptoms. Therapeutic exercise helps to slow down the onset of muscle weakness. The aim of this review is to describe recent research data on the applications of therapeutic exercise in patients with ALS. The Google Scholar and PubMed databases were searched with the following keywords: motor neurone disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, exercises, rehabilitation. Both clinical trials and reviews were included in the review. In conclusion, the application of therapeutic exercise helps to better compensate the deficits and to minimize the muscle weakness and atrophy caused by the disease. Exercises such as aerobics and flexibility and mobility exercises help maintain work ability and endurance and prevent lack of use in the upper and lower limbs.