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Recent Quest Articles

Hand Controls Keep You on the Go

Mechanical and electronic hand controls can mean the difference between staying on the road and feeling trapped in your own home.But while hand controls may sound like the be-all and end-all solution, there’s a long (and often expensive) road ahead. Planning, driver evaluations and training all are required in order to find the right equipment to safely meet your driving needs.

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New Directions in Autoimmune Disorders

What do inflammatory muscle diseases (myositis),  myasthenia gravis,  Lambert-Eaton syndrome, and dozens of other disorders like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, have in common?In all these and more, the body’s immune system, which normally detects and destroys invading microbes that cause illness, somehow has taken a wrong turn, and is attacking its own tissues, causing what’s known as an “autoimmune” (self-immune) disease.

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Turning Seats Can Enhance Mobility

Sometimes the problem with a vehicle isn’t driving it, but getting in and out. In that case, a turning seat may be a good option.People often would rather keep their SUV or pickup truck instead of getting an adapted van, says T.C. Cole, Access Unlimited’s director of sales and marketing. “This opens up a lot of possibilities that weren’t there before.”

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Wheelchair Cushions Can Save Your Butt

Pressure sores, also known as pressure ulcers, ischemic ulcers and bedsores, are a common hazard for people who spend hours daily in a wheelchair.Not everyone is at risk, though, and for many, using a relatively inexpensive foam rubber or gel wheelchair cushion is fine, as long as it’s comfortable.

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NIV Masks: Finding the One That’s Just Right

Once upon a time, there was a young woman named Goldilocks. She went to visit her MDA clinic for an appointment with a respiratory therapist (RT) because her doctor said she needed help to breathe better.Goldilocks was going to try on a variety of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) interfaces and find the one that was just right.

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European Team Combines Stem Cells, Gene Correction to Treat DMD-Affected Mice

A European group of researchers successfully used a combination of genetic correction and stem cells to treat  Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)  in mice with the disease. The compound they used for the genetic correction was developed by Judith van Deutekom, then at Leiden (Netherlands) University Medical Center, with MDA support.

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How to Get Your Child's School to Provide Assistive Technology or Help with Learning Disabilities

State and federal law requires school districts to provide assistive technology (AT) and specialized instruction for learning disabilities (LD) to qualifying students.But parents may have a difficult time convincing their school districts that these services will benefit their child.Parents stand a better chance of getting special services if they know what to ask for, why they’re asking for it and how to ask for it.

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Not Enough ZZZzzzs?

Do you suffer from sleep disturbances — snoring, choking or gasping, or restless tossing and turning?Do you wake up in a sweat in the middle of the night, or arise in the morning feeling fatigued, or with headaches, sore throat or dry mouth?Do you experience memory and concentration problems, or find you’re excessively sleepy during the day, falling asleep when you normally shouldn’t, such as during eating, talking or driving?

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Splish Splash: Easier Ways to Get Clean

If you have a  neuromuscular disease, is there anything more energy-draining than taking a shower or bath?It’s important, though, and not just because you don’t want to stink up the joint. Because people with disabilities are more sedentary, they’re at greater risk for pressure sores and circulation problems, said Jodi Bales, an occupational therapist (OT) at the Forbes Norris MDA/ALS Center at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. Bathing or showering every two or three days helps to reduce these risks by moving your body around and rubbing off layers of dead skin.

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Canes, Crutches and Walkers

More than 6 million Americans, including many with  neuromuscular diseases, use mobility devices such as walkers, canes and crutches to assist them with getting around. The type of device people should use depends on how much assistance they require with weight support and balance. Deciding on the right device calls for expert consultation and some product comparisons.

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MDA Resource Center: We’re Here For You

Our trained specialists are here to provide one-on-one support for every part of your journey. Send a message below or call us at 1-833-ASK-MDA1 (1-833-275-6321). If you live outside the U.S., we may be able to connect you to muscular dystrophy groups in your area, but MDA services are only available in the U.S.

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