Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. When these neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. There are currently seven drugs used to treat ALS, but with only limited improvements shown, adjunct therapies have also been researched to help improve this condition. At Re-Gen Fitness and Recovery, we utilize the most researched and successful therapies to improve neurological function in individuals suffering from ALS. These include:

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

HBOT has been shown to improve oxygen delivery, blood flow and inflammation in nervous tissue, and has neuroprotective and neuroregenerative effects, which can lead to a reduction in degeneration of nervous tissue and an improvement in physical abilities in those with ALS. In one study examining 40 HBOT sessions over 3 months, individuals with ALS had a 18% slower progression rate compared to those who did not participate in HBOT. In another study of 40 HBOT sessions over an eight week period, fatigue was significantly decreased and muscle strength was increased. A third study showed that 60 sessions resulted in a 28% slower decline in muscle strength and a 50% increase in quality of life when compared to a control group.

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF)

Although not as well researched as HBOT, PEMF has also shown the ability to improve physical function in individuals suffering from ALS. One study of 20 PEMF sessions showed its ability to improve muscular strength and motor coordination in ALS. Another study of 20 PEMF sessions found that it was able to protect neurons from dying and increased the release of chemicals that help neurons grow. 

Cryotherapy and Infrared Heat Therapy

Cryotherapy and Infrared Heat Therapy have also been shown to improve neurological function in ALS. For instance, 12 cryotherapy sessions over 12 weeks were shown to significantly improve both muscle strength and fatigue by approximately 15% when compared to a control group. In addition, 20 sessions of infrared heat therapy were shown to decrease the frequency and severity of muscle spasms in individuals with ALS, while 60 sessions were able to slow disease progression. The combination of cryotherapy and infrared heat therapy can reduce inflammation, improve blood flow, and can increase the number of beneficial proteins in the brain, all of which are believed to contribute to the improvements in ALS. 

Targeted Nutritional Supplementation

Nutritional supplementation plays an important part in recovery from ALS, as the disease can cause problems in eating and thus absorbing key nutrients. Two of these key nutrients are Vitamin D3 and CoQ10 (found in our Healthy Aging Blend). In fact, studies have shown that daily Vitamin D3 and CoQ10 has the ability to slow the progression of ALS significantly. Other beneficial nutrients include antioxidants in our “Antioxidant Blend”, and B vitamins and amino acids in our “Gut Health Blend”. Research has examined many of the nutrients in these blends, including alpha lipoic acid, vitamin E, vitamins B12 and B6 and the amino acid carnitine and has shown that they provide beneficial effects on ALS disease progression. 

Guided Fitness and Flexibility Training

Fitness and flexibility are crucial to health, cognitive function, motor coordination, and mood. However, this can be difficult when physical capabilities are already being affected by ALS. At Re-Gen, we have many years of experience working with individuals suffering from these effects, and we have shown a consistent ability to improve physical capabilities in a variety of neurological and neuromuscular disease conditions through our custom designed, fully supervised, individual fitness programs.