Mike Leist

I did frequent, strenuous exercise, and I have sporadic ALS (no genetic test). But I’ve been involved in competitive sports since I was a kid. I was diagnosed at age 45. I continued competitive and strenuous exercise nearly two years after my diagnosis, and kept records on my strength levels in the gym throughout. I found that I lost strength much…[Read more]

There’s multiple orthotic braces that are available. The most common that people start with is the headmaster. As his need for support grows, there’s others that provide more support, like the Miami J, or the Minerva brace. If you attend an ALS clinic, the occupational therapist should be able to help you choose which one would work best for his needs.

Hi Lisa. I’m sorry to hear of your issues, and a possible ALS diagnosis. I was diagnosed 5 years ago, and here is what I have learned. I continued to exercise at normal levels for about 3 years after my first symptom. Head drop impacted my ability to paddle on the water (dragon boating was my sport ), but I continued to walk and lift weights until…[Read more]

Like many PALS, I was very physically active when I was diagnosed. I continued to be as long as I could, and kept workout journals.  I noticed the more active I was consistently, the slower the disease progression.  When I took time off for whatever reason, I lost strength more quickly than when I was healthy and took breaks from my routine. I d…[Read more]

I’ve found that the cough assist has been great as a training tool to keep lung capacity longer. And, as phlegm / mucus become an issue, especially in your lungs, it is a great tool.