What is physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is used to improve a patient’s physical functions through physical examination, diagnosis, prognosis, physical intervention, rehabilitation and patient education. Physical therapy is provided as a primary care treatment or alongside, or in conjunction with, other medical services.

Physiotherapy, or physical therapy, is a treatment approach that aims to help patients maintain mobility and reduce pain through massage, exercise, education, and advice. Patients should begin working with a physiotherapist as soon as possible after being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy.

How can physiotherapy help Muscular Dystrophy patients?

Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of disorders that cause progressive muscle weakness and loss of muscle control. There are many types of muscular dystrophy, with distinct treatments and needs.But for all dystrophy types, physiotherapy is one approach that may help to slow disease progression, maintain quality of life, and reduce pain.

Physiotherapists help children with muscular dystrophy manage complications, such as muscle weakness and contraction caused by disease progression.

Physical therapists identify areas of muscle weakness, and work with the child to keep their muscles as flexible and strong as possible. They also teach stretching and muscle exercises that can be done at home, as well as make recommendations for physical education and accommodations at school.

Every child will have unique needs and may be affected differently by the disease. Physical therapist work with children, their parents, and their care team to develop a treatment plan customized to the child’s needs.Some patients may have trouble with daily tasks, like eating, due to muscle weakness or difficulties with swallowing. Physical therapy can identify exercises that help to strengthen throat, jaw and tongue muscles to address these problems.

Depending on the type of muscular dystrophy, physical therapists can help slow the loss of range of motion, muscle strength, daily function, and gait and posture. Physiotherapy may also help reduce the pain patients may be experiencing as a result of muscle weakness or cramping.

PHYSIOTHERAPY IN CEREBRAL PALSY

Physiotherapy (PT) is a branch of rehabilitative health that is considered one of the most important aspects of treating children with Cerebral Palsy. Those with Cerebral Palsy experience mobility, function, posture and balance challenges of varying degrees, and physiotherapy – which focuses on basic mobility such as standing, walking, climbing stairs, reaching or operating a wheelchair – is a key element in the multidisciplinary approach to increasing a child’s mobility.

Physiotherapy is the rehabilitation of physical impairments by training and strengthening a patient’s large muscles – those in the arms, legs, and abdomen. The goal of physical therapy is to maximize functional control of the body, or increase gross motor function.

The goal of Physiotherapy is to help individuals:

• Develop coordination
• build strength
• improve balance
• maintain flexibility
• optimize physical functioning levels
• maximize independence

Physiotherapists identify mobility issues and determine the unique physical abilities and limitations of children, taking into account their age and cognitive functioning, after a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy is made by a physician.

The therapist will then develop a course of treatment that will include exercises, stretches, and possibly assistive and adaptive equipment designed to achieve mobility. The treatment may also employ the use of passive modalities involving hot and cold packs, ultrasound technology or other means in which the child does not take an active role.

All treatment is designed to meet a child’s individual needs in a way that emphasizes physical fitness, and minimizes injuries and pain.

Additionally, a physiotherapist provides positive reinforcement for a child by focusing on his or her capabilities, not limitations. The therapist will set goals for young patients, and work with them to meet predetermined benchmarks with confidence in a safe, supportive environment.

Therapy aids overall treatment goals such as:

• Overcoming physical limitations
• Expanding range of joint motion
• Building and maintaining muscle ton
• Increasing recreational capabilities
• Identifying alternate ways to perform everyday tasks
• Fostering independence
• Decreasing the likelihood of contractures, bone deformity
• Educating children and parents about adaptive equipment
• Providing sensory stimulation
• Increasing fitness
• Increasing flexibility
• Improving posture
• Improving gait
• Minimizing pain and discomfort

Benefits from Physiotherapy

A child, and his or her parents or caregivers, benefit tremendously from physical therapy because it helps the child overcome physical limitations by increasing mobility, and identifies alternate methods of completing tasks.This is of benefit to the child because it makes possible something unaffected individuals take for granted: the ability to move from place to place and interact with other children or adults by playing or performing tasks. Therapy also increases overall health by strengthening the body in a way that makes functioning not only possible, but pain and stress-free.

This is achieved not only by developing strength and flexibility in the body, but also using adaptive techniques – or equipment that can be operated by the child – that will allow the patient an alternate path to perform tasks able-bodied children their age perform.