Move on up: neck and shoulders
Nearly everyone experiences stiffness and tension in their neck and
shoulders, and when giving a massage, special attention should be given
to these areas.
Alexander disease, which affects mostly males, usually begins at about 6 months of age.
Alexander disease is a set of genetic conditions called the leukodystrophies that affect development of the myelin sheath, the fatty covering, which acts as an insulator-on nerve fibers in the brain. Alexander disease is considered an autosomal dominant disorder, which means one copy of the altered gene in each cell is sufficient to cause the disease. Almost all cases result from new mutations in the gene and occur in people with no history of the disorder in their family. Children with hydrocephalus caused by Alexander disease usually have increased intracranial pressure and a more rapid progression of the disease. Generally, the earlier the age of onset of Alexander disease, the more severe and rapid the course. Therefore, unaffected parents of a child with ALX are at a low risk to have another affected child.
