Spinal muscular atrophy or SMA is a condition affecting children and infants; it makes it very hard for them to move their muscles. When your child has been diagnosed with SMA nerve cells in his spinal cord and brain are affected. His brain cannot send messages to control muscle movement. As a result, the child develops weak muscles, and he may have a lot of difficulty in sitting without assistance, moving his head, or walking. With the progression of the disease, he may develop breathing and swallowing problems.

Most popular treatment options for spinal muscle atrophy

• Among the best-known treatment options for spinal muscle atrophy are medications namely Spinraza and Zolgensma. These are approved by the FDA and are types of gene therapy for genes involved in spinal muscular atrophy. The first treatment or Nusinersen adjusts the SMN2 gene, allowing it to produce proteins for controlling muscle movements. The medicine is injected into the body fluid around the child’s spinal cord by a team of doctors and this treatment must be done a few times during a session. Research shows that almost 40% of patients who have gone through this have become stronger, and the disease progression has been somewhat slowed down. The second therapy replaces the defective SMN1 gene and this is recommended for infants below 2 years. Here, the doctors place a catheter into a vein in his arm directly and send a copy of this gene via a tube to a group of neuron cells controlling motor functions. This is done only once and has been found to help SMA-affected babies attain some developmental goals faster.
• Besides this gene therapy, doctors who are trying out treatment options for spinal muscle atrophy will try and introduce breathing exercises for patients. When you have this condition, muscles become weak and the air cannot move in or out of the lungs very easily. So, a mouthpiece or mask may become necessary for your child to help him breathe better.
• If the throat and mouth muscles become weak, children having SMA may find it very challenging to swallow food. This means that the child may be deprived of sufficient nutrition. As a result, growth is also affected. So, it is best to consult a nutritionist and some kids may require a feeding tube.
• Occupational therapy uses exercises to make the joints stronger. The therapist you consult may recommend leg braces, wheelchairs, or walkers; besides, special tools are available to help these children draw and write.
• When SMA strikes in childhood the affected kids are likely to get a spinal curve and this may require them to wear back braces during the period when the spine will be growing. Once the patient stops growing, he can be made to undergo surgery to correct the spinal curve.

Besides these treatment options, there is a lot of research going on to discover new treatments for spinal muscular atrophy. You may consult your doctor about the value of clinical trials. You can check clinical trial databases to understand the latest research in treating SMA.