The SMA Victor

For individuals and families living with SMA, insurance can sometimes make life harder because access to treatment, equipment, therapy, caregiving ...

Sleep problems in Spinal Muscular Atrophy may be connected to respiratory muscle weakness, sleep-disordered breathing, shallow breathing during sle...

One common complication many people with SMA may develop is scoliosis, which is an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine. This can happen becaus...

The muscles of the neck, upper back, shoulders, and trunk all help hold the head upright, and when those muscles are weak or easily fatigued, keepi...

While SMA is often associated with mobility challenges, wheelchair use, and muscle weakness in the arms and legs, it can also affect the muscles in...

While SMA is often associated with muscle weakness, wheelchair use, breathing challenges, and swallowing concerns, it can also impact a person’s ab...

One reason it can be harder for individuals with SMA to fight infections is that the condition can weaken the respiratory muscles needed to breathe...

One of the most serious health concerns for individuals living with SMA is an increased risk of pneumonia, especially when respiratory muscles are ...

Spinal Muscular Atrophy was first discovered in 1891 by Austrian neurologist Guido Werdnig, who reported two infant brothers with progressive muscl...

Some people with SMA may be able to improve or maintain strength, function, endurance, flexibility, or muscle use through safe exercise and physica...

For individuals and families navigating SMA, support organizations can play an important role in education, advocacy, research, care access, and co...

When someone has SMA, the nerve cells in the spinal cord and lower brain that send signals to the muscles become damaged or atrophy, causing muscle...