Raising Awareness.

Sunday 30th of June is Arthrogryposis Awareness Day!

An unborn baby not moving properly during fetal development causes Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita. For proper joint development to happen a baby has to move its limbs. When a joint doesn't move for a long period of time, it gets stuck and contracted. Why a baby fails to move its joints? Depending on the type of AMC. In Amyoplasia (a non-genetic type), for example, it happens when the muscles fail to develop. (A genetic type) Escobar Syndrome, the messages that impact a person's muscle movement is affected, when the message isn't able to get through very well it makes it more difficult for them to move! Common joint contractures in Arthrogryposis include: Clubbed feet or vertical talus, extended (straight) or flexed knees, dislocated and/or externally rotated hips, internally rotated shoulders, extended or flexed elbows, flexed wrists, adducted thumbs (stuck-in-palm), fingers fisted or extended! Arthrogryposis cannot be cured, but it is treatable! Usually the goal of treatment is to make a person as independent as possible in activities of daily living (ADL's). ADL’s are those things you do every day to take care of yourself (eating, dressing, ect), without treatment we find it difficult to do these daily activities.
So please spread the word to raise more awareness, so people know what we really are about.

Please wear Blue to show support and to spread the word...