Neuromuscular Disorders

A broad group of medical conditions that impair the functioning of muscles, either through direct pathology of the muscle tissue, the peripheral nerves that control them, or the neuromuscular junction where nerves connect to muscles. Neuromuscular disorders include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, myasthenia gravis, and peripheral neuropathies. Many of these conditions are progressive, gradually reducing a person's ability to move, speak, and eventually breathe. In accessibility contexts, neuromuscular disorders are particularly significant because they can eliminate all conventional input methods (keyboard, mouse, touch, voice, eye-gaze), making brain-computer interfaces the only remaining communication channel for the most severely affected individuals.