Spinal muscular atrophy is a genetic disease that damages and kills motor neurons, causing weakness and muscle atrophy. Motor neurons are nerve cells belonging to the spinal cord and lower part of the brain, these are responsible for controlling the movements of the body, such as the arms, legs, chest, face, throat and tongue. For this reason, if motor neurons die, muscles atrophy, eventually affecting walking, speaking, swallowing, and even breathing.

On the other hand, users who suffer from this disease must face it day to day and can help themselves with the use of a wheelchair, however, everything will depend on what type of spinal muscular atrophy the patient possesses. Manual and lightweight wheelchairs can be a good choice for children with AME type II, as it provides independence and mobility, while at the same time you can use your strength with your upper body members. However, in cases where the child’s muscles are weak, the use of an electric wheelchair is essential.

Types of spinal muscular atrophy

AME, known by its acronym as spinal muscular atrophy, is a neurodegenerative condition that has no cure and that mainly causes the death of children under two years old.  Affected patients do not have a specific treatment to cure them, so it is very important to have special wheelchairs to help them in their daily lives. This disease has different levels of severity, the types of spinal muscular atrophy are:

• Type I SMA: This is the most common and most severe SMA, usually affecting infants, with symptoms occurring before 6 months of age. Even in more serious cases, symptoms appear before or after birth. This type of SMA causes breathing and swallowing problems, and without treatment, children may die before they are 2 years old.
• SMA type II: This type ranges from moderate to severe, with symptoms appearing at about 6 to 18 months of age. Usually, children with this type of condition cannot stand or walk unaided, however, they can sit alone. This type of SMA also causes breathing problems and patients have a life expectancy until adolescence or adulthood.
• SMA type III: It is mild and symptoms usually occur after 18 months of age. Children who have this type of condition can walk, get up, climb stairs, however, they cannot run. This type of SMA causes scoliosis and respiratory infections. With appropriate treatment, a child’s life expectancy is normal.
• Type IV SMA: It is uncommon and occasionally mild. Symptoms develop after age 21. This type of SMA causes muscle weakness, shaking, and mild breathing problems. Over time, these symptoms worsen. The patient’s life expectancy is normal.

Importance of the Wheelchair for Children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophy is a condition of motor neurons and is of genetic origin. It is a type of debilitating disease that damages and causes atrophy in the muscles. It primarily affects children, preventing them from doing activities as simple as crawling, breathing, walking, swallowing, and controlling the head and neck. This disorder occurs in an average of 8 of every 100,000 children born, affecting 1 of every 6,000 to 10,000 users worldwide.

Spinal muscular atrophy affects the muscles of the body, especially the legs, so it is essential to use special equipment, such as the wheelchair, to serve as a technical aid for the movement of the child. Manual wheelchairs are a good option, as they allow autonomy and confidence, however, if the child does not have enough strength in his arms, the best option would be an electric wheelchair. On the other hand, the standing wheelchair is excellent for adding independence and mobility, being able to use from 13 months of age.

Wheelchair Brand Kalstein

At Kalstein we are a leading company in laboratory and clinical equipment, we have different types of wheelchairs, designed to meet user requirements and needs. We assure you that, whatever type of wheelchair you will purchase, it will be characterized by being of high quality, since being MANUFACTURERS of them, we ensure that this is met. If you want to make the PURCHASE of a wheelchair, we guarantee that with us you will find the best PRICES on the market and at the same time high quality and technology. Here are the features of our manual wheelchair model YR:

• Spray Frame.
• Fixed armrest.
• Fixed Footrest.
• Solid front wheel.
• PU MAG Rear Wheel.
• Handle with brake.

In our web you can see all the chairs that we have for sale and to make the purchase of it, you only need to make the quote HERE