Lou Gehrig’s disease, otherwise known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is a highly degenerative disease that affects the nervous system. ALS hinders the power of the brain to pass messages to the voluntary muscles of the body. This happens due to the fact that the muscle neurons start degenerating. Eventually the neurons completely die off causing the muscle groups to waste away.

ALS gained the name of Lou Gehrig's disease due to Lou Gehrig, a famous baseball player who developed the illness in 1939 and passed away some two years later.

The explanation for this degenerative disease remains unknown, although it has been put forward that the illness is caused by an infection or virus. There seems to be a genetic component to the illness as well.

Within the early phases of Lou Gehrig’s disease, the sufferer may discover some leg or arm weakness as the muscle mass begins to show signs of atrophy and ripples. This happens as the motor neurons are dying with the patient losing control over his muscles until he can no longer move them. Additionally patients might experience difficulties swallowing and/or with speech. Cramping and muscle pain are also common complaints of this illness.  The body continues to waste but the sufferer’s cognitive abilities remain intact.

Lou Gehrig's disease, or ALS, generally is 60% more common in men than women, primarily affecting those males between the ages of 35 and 65. Approximately 50% of the individuals diagnosed with this illness live three years or more. Of the remaining sufferers a further 20 % live another 5 years or more, with about 10 % making it past the 10 year mark or longer.
As there is no known cure for Lou Gehrig’s disease, there isn’t any clearly defined treatment for ALS, although various treatments are used to minimize pain and suffering associated with the disease. A medication is being currently researched which aims to slow down the progression of ALS.
 
Massage therapy is commonly used to make sufferers more comfortable. It also minimizes cramping and muscle pain. Gentle passive massage and various ranges of motion prevent joints from becoming stiff, and by increasing the blood supply into to muscles via massage, this decelerates muscle atrophy to some degree.

Research has shown that regular massage and touch is beneficial in helping both mental and physical symptoms of many degenerative and deliberating diseases, including Lou Gehrig’s disease.  Because having a serious illness is very stressful, massage therapy can also help lower anxiety as it significantly lowers the quantity of Cortisol, the body’s stress hormone.

Should a patient’s muscle tissues be too atrophied to work on, then a simple hand, foot and scalp massage can also be highly beneficial. Even reflexology techniques can cause some pain relief for patients. So regardless of the severity of the condition, massage therapy can help.