ALS EXAM AND TREATMENT WITH
QUESTIONS AND 100% CORRECT
SOLUTIONS 2025 UPDATE
Another name for ALS - ANS Lou Gehrig's disease
Etiology of ALS - ANS unknown; its a progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal
cord, brainstem, and cortex
Typical age MS begins - ANS mid to late 50s
POSSIBLE causes of ALS - ANS - lose enzymes that get rid of free radicals, so they accumulate
- excess glutamate causes neurodegeneration
- just another autoimmune disorder that develops
- there's a lack of neurotropic factors
- environmental factors such as lead and pesticides that trigger apoptosis
Do more men or women get ALS? - ANS women
Typical life span with ALS - ANS 2-5 years
Death with ALS is often caused by - ANS respiratory failure
What drug has been shown to extend the life expectancy of ALS by 2-3 months? - ANS Riluzole
Poorer functional prognosis with ALS is associated with: - ANS - older age at time of dx
- shorter time between onset and dx
- if there is dyspnea at onset
Describe the bulbar type of ALS - ANS affects CNs IX, X, XI, XII
much poorer prognosis
difficulties w/eating, speech, swallowing, etc
What is the goal with therapy of ALS? - ANS maintain independence as long as possible
T&M for psychosocial function with ALS - ANS PHQ-9
Becks Depression Inventory
Pain scale for ALS - ANS VAS
Are they hypo or hypertonic with ALS? - ANS both/either because it is UMN and LMN; use
MAS to evaluate
, Is integumentary a big concern with ALS? - ANS no because sensation remains intact; becomes
a problem when they can't communicate any longer and can't tell their caregiver when they need
to be repositioned
What can we do for head drop with ALS? - ANS brace
Good balance T&M for ALS - ANS Tinetti
TUG
Functional Reach
Berg
Fatigue T&M for ALS - ANS Fatigue Severity Scale
QoL T&M for ALS - ANS Short Form 36
ALS assessment questionnaire
What measure rates the stage of ALS? - ANS Sinaki and Mulder's 6 Stages of ALS
What Sinaki and Mulder Stage of ALS is this?
mild muscle weakness
clumsiness
individual is ambulatory and independent in ADLs - ANS I
What Sinaki and Mulder Stage of ALS is this?
moderate, selective muscle weakness; slightly decreased independence in ADLs, such as
difficulty climbing stairs, raising arms, or buttoning clothing - ANS II
What Sinaki and Mulder Stage of ALS is this?
severe selective weakness, especially in distal ankle, wrist, and hand musculature
moderately decreased independence in ADLs
individual may become fatigued with ambulation for long distances
slightly increased respiratory effort with exertion - ANS III
What Sinaki and Mulder Stage of ALS is this?
severe overall muscle weakness resulting in hanging-arm syndrome with shoulder pain and
edema in the hand
individual becomes w/c dependent
difficulty with performance of ADLs due to extreme fatigue - ANS IV
What Sinaki and Mulder Stage of ALS is this?
increasing muscle weakness and dependence in ADLs - ANS V
What Sinaki and Mulder Stage of ALS is this?
mostly confined to bed
completely dependent in ADLs - ANS VI
QUESTIONS AND 100% CORRECT
SOLUTIONS 2025 UPDATE
Another name for ALS - ANS Lou Gehrig's disease
Etiology of ALS - ANS unknown; its a progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal
cord, brainstem, and cortex
Typical age MS begins - ANS mid to late 50s
POSSIBLE causes of ALS - ANS - lose enzymes that get rid of free radicals, so they accumulate
- excess glutamate causes neurodegeneration
- just another autoimmune disorder that develops
- there's a lack of neurotropic factors
- environmental factors such as lead and pesticides that trigger apoptosis
Do more men or women get ALS? - ANS women
Typical life span with ALS - ANS 2-5 years
Death with ALS is often caused by - ANS respiratory failure
What drug has been shown to extend the life expectancy of ALS by 2-3 months? - ANS Riluzole
Poorer functional prognosis with ALS is associated with: - ANS - older age at time of dx
- shorter time between onset and dx
- if there is dyspnea at onset
Describe the bulbar type of ALS - ANS affects CNs IX, X, XI, XII
much poorer prognosis
difficulties w/eating, speech, swallowing, etc
What is the goal with therapy of ALS? - ANS maintain independence as long as possible
T&M for psychosocial function with ALS - ANS PHQ-9
Becks Depression Inventory
Pain scale for ALS - ANS VAS
Are they hypo or hypertonic with ALS? - ANS both/either because it is UMN and LMN; use
MAS to evaluate
, Is integumentary a big concern with ALS? - ANS no because sensation remains intact; becomes
a problem when they can't communicate any longer and can't tell their caregiver when they need
to be repositioned
What can we do for head drop with ALS? - ANS brace
Good balance T&M for ALS - ANS Tinetti
TUG
Functional Reach
Berg
Fatigue T&M for ALS - ANS Fatigue Severity Scale
QoL T&M for ALS - ANS Short Form 36
ALS assessment questionnaire
What measure rates the stage of ALS? - ANS Sinaki and Mulder's 6 Stages of ALS
What Sinaki and Mulder Stage of ALS is this?
mild muscle weakness
clumsiness
individual is ambulatory and independent in ADLs - ANS I
What Sinaki and Mulder Stage of ALS is this?
moderate, selective muscle weakness; slightly decreased independence in ADLs, such as
difficulty climbing stairs, raising arms, or buttoning clothing - ANS II
What Sinaki and Mulder Stage of ALS is this?
severe selective weakness, especially in distal ankle, wrist, and hand musculature
moderately decreased independence in ADLs
individual may become fatigued with ambulation for long distances
slightly increased respiratory effort with exertion - ANS III
What Sinaki and Mulder Stage of ALS is this?
severe overall muscle weakness resulting in hanging-arm syndrome with shoulder pain and
edema in the hand
individual becomes w/c dependent
difficulty with performance of ADLs due to extreme fatigue - ANS IV
What Sinaki and Mulder Stage of ALS is this?
increasing muscle weakness and dependence in ADLs - ANS V
What Sinaki and Mulder Stage of ALS is this?
mostly confined to bed
completely dependent in ADLs - ANS VI
