Living with SMA: care guides
Good supportive care — for breathing, feeding, movement and wellbeing — makes a big difference to health and quality of life, with or without medicines.
Newly diagnosed
Step-by-step first actions after an SMA diagnosis.
Standards of care
The five areas of care experts recommend discussing with your medical team.
Breathing
Chest physiotherapy, cough assist, BiPAP, and when to seek urgent help.
Nutrition
Calorie needs, swallowing, reflux, constipation and healthy weight.
Physiotherapy & mobility
Exercise, stretching, orthotics, wheelchairs and orthopaedic care.
Emotional support
Coping with a diagnosis, caring for the carer, and finding community.
COVID-19 guidelines
Archived 2020 guidance from a national multidisciplinary task force.
Need help putting this into practice?
Our SMA clinics bring a neurologist, pulmonologist, orthopaedic surgeon, dietician and physiotherapist together in one visit, and our team can guide you to specialists near you.
Information, not medical advice
These guides are for general information and do not replace advice from your doctor. Always discuss care decisions with the medical team who knows you or your child.