ALS Learning Series
Functional mobility changes with ALS: What to expect and how to partner with your healthcare team
Thursday, October 30, 2025
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She will explore the causes and consequences of ALS diagnostic delay, along with potential solutions to address this problem. A Q&A will follow. </span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}\"> </span></p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Diagnostic delays are typically 10 to 16 months, and double that time for people of color. There’s no definitive single test that will tell you that you have ALS, so the medical approach ends up being one of exclusion (excluding other possibilities). </span></p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">About the Speaker: Kelly Gwathmey, MD </span></b><span data-ccp-props=\"{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}\"> </span></p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW199836326 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW199836326 BCX8\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"Normal (Web)\">Kelly Gwathmey is an Associate Professor of Neurology at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. She studied Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. She then attended Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia. Her Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology training was completed at the University of Virginia. Following this, she completed a Neuromuscular Medicine fellowship at both Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. </span></span></p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW199836326 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW199836326 BCX8\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"Normal (Web)\">At the University of Virginia, she started the multidisciplinary MDA clinic, was co-director of the ALS clinic, and was the fellowship director for both the Neuromuscular and Clinical Neurophysiology fellowships. </span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW199836326 BCX8\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"Normal (Web)\">She joined VCU in January 2019 and currently serves in the capacity of Neuromuscular Division Chair, Neuromuscular Medicine Program </span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW199836326 BCX8\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"Normal (Web)\">Director</span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW199836326 BCX8\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"Normal (Web)\"> and EMG Laboratory Director.</span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW199836326 BCX8\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"Normal (Web)\"> Dr. Gwathmey sees a wide spectrum of neuromuscular patients and performs electrodiagnostic studies (nerve conduction studies and electromyography). Her research interests include environmental risk factors in ALS, diagnostic delay in ALS, and racial disparities in healthcare. </span></span><span class=\"EOP SCXW199836326 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}\"> </span></p>\n<p><span class=\"EOP SCXW239375178 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}\"> </span></p>","text_font_family":"inherit","text_font_size":"18px","text_font_style":"normal","text_font_weight":"inherit","text_letter_spacing":"0em","text_line_height":"1.4","text_margin":"0em 0em 30px 0em","text_max_width":"none","text_padding":"!0em","text_text_align":"left","text_text_color":"#444","text_text_color_alt":"","text_text_decoration":"none","text_text_shadow_color":"transparent","text_text_shadow_color_alt":"","text_text_shadow_dimensions":"!0px 0px 0px","text_text_transform":"none","text_width":"auto","_modules":[]}](https://lesturnerals.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/headshot-HR-1-200x300.jpg)
Changes in functional mobility are common with ALS. This often may present as difficulty with transfers, need for a walking aide, possible wheelchair evaluation, and need for additional training with a caregiver. In this presentation, we will cover common mobility changes along with a discussion on what to expect when partnering with an ALS provider and when you should consider scheduling with your ALS provider.
About the Speaker: Hannah Redd, PT, DPT, NCS, Physical Therapist, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Hannah Redd PT, DPT, NCS specializes in providing patient care in the area of neuromuscular disorders at the outpatient neurologic clinic at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Hannah is currently an adjunct faculty member with the Northwestern University Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences and has previously been on faculty at Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions at Georgia State University and Emory University School of Medicine.
Please visit our ALS & Mobility Guide for more information.
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