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Specialized equipment for spinal muscular atrophy
Last updated Feb. 6, 2023, by Susie Strachan
Fact-checked by Patricia Silva, PhD
Symptoms requiring equipment
Mobility
Respiratory
Orthopedic
FAQs
People with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) often need specialized equipment to help support them in daily activities, assist with mobility, and aid with breathing, coughing, and swallowing issues.
SMA is divided into five main types — 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 — and equipment needs depend on the severity of the condition. Type 0 is the most severe form of the disease, with an onset before birth, while type 4 is its mildest form, occurring in adulthood.
There is a range of different specialized equipment options available to assist those living with SMA, including walking aids, such as braces, grab bars, and electric wheelchairs, bath chairs, breathing and feeding equipment, and car beds for traveling.
Visiting a practitioner who has experience working with SMA patients can help individuals decide which specialized equipment is best suited to their daily life.
What symptoms of SMA require specialized equipment?
SMA is a genetic condition causing progressive muscle weakness and wasting due to [...]