At TheraCure, our Scope of Occupational therapy for Cerebral palsy/ muscular dystrophy includes
- Acupuncture
- Advice on self-management techniques such as pacing, stress, and sleep
- Breathing, relaxation, and mindfulness
- Cold pack/heat and electrotherapy such as TNS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) Education
- Exercise prescription and Movement therapy
- Manual Therapy
- Therapeutic Massage
Full Answer
How do home care workers help individuals with muscular dystrophy?
The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) offers these and other tips: 2
- Create a bedroom (and, if possible, a bathroom) on the main floor of the house.
- Reduce struggling by placing items on low shelves or implementing technology that allow your loved one to, say, turn on lights with their smartphone.
- Add a ramp to avoid the need to use outdoor steps.
How to help someone with muscular dystrophy?
Muscular dystrophy can affect you emotionally as well as physically. Support groups and organisations may help you understand and come to terms with your condition. They can also provide useful advice and support for people who care for those with MD.
Can you be cured of muscular dystrophy?
The event raised funds for CureDuchenne, a global nonprofit committed to finding a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. To date, the event has helped raise more than $7.5 million for CureDuchenne.
Can music really be a therapy for muscular dystrophy?
Treatments. In order to combat muscular dystrophy, different exercise protocols cannot be used due to increased muscle degeneration during any type of muscular contraction or relaxation. Therefore, the best-recommended way to limit the onset of symptoms related to muscular dystrophy, an individual can perform certain stretching programs.
How can an occupational therapist help with Duchenne muscular dystrophy?
They can:collaborate with the healthcare team to implement programs specific to the patient's disabilities;suggest activities that can strengthen the weakened muscles to maintain independence;recommend modifications for easy and safe access at home, school, or work, especially when using a wheelchair or a walker;More items...
Which of the therapies are useful in muscular dystrophy rehabilitation?
What are the treatments for muscular dystrophy (MD)?Physical Therapy. Beginning physical therapy early can help keep muscles flexible and strong. ... Respiratory Therapy. ... Speech Therapy. ... Occupational Therapy. ... Surgery. ... Drug Therapy. ... Gene-Based Therapy.
What is the most effective treatment for muscular dystrophy?
Corticosteroids, such as prednisone and deflazacort (Emflaza), which can help muscle strength and delay the progression of certain types of muscular dystrophy.
Does physical therapy treat muscular dystrophy?
Physical therapy can help to prevent deformities, increase mobility, and keep muscles strong and flexible in patients with muscular dystrophy. An individualized physical therapy program is often developed to meet the specific needs of the patient.
Do occupational therapists work with muscular dystrophy?
Many adults and children with muscular dystrophy also work with an occupational therapist. These therapists can help you continue performing activities of daily living, such as feeding, grooming, dressing, writing, and workplace tasks, as your physical abilities change due to the symptoms of muscular dystrophy.
What type of therapy is Eteplirsen?
Eteplirsen (brand name Exondys 51) is a medication to treat, but not cure, some types of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), caused by a specific mutation. Eteplirsen only targets specific mutations and can be used to treat about 14% of DMD cases. Eteplirsen is a form of antisense therapy.
Are there any new treatment for muscular dystrophy?
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted approval for Amondys 45 (casimersen) injection for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in patients who have a confirmed mutation of the DMD gene that is amenable to exon 45 skipping (Exons are pieces of DNA that provide information for making proteins ...
Can you build muscle with muscular dystrophy?
There are different types of muscular dystrophy and the severity of the condition can vary greatly from one patient to another. There are many MD patients who cannot partake in physical exercise, but for others, engaging in an exercise routine can help improve muscle tone and increase overall fitness and health.
Can you recover from muscular dystrophy?
There's currently no cure for muscular dystrophy (MD), but a variety of treatments can help to manage the condition. As different types of MD can cause quite specific problems, the treatment you receive will be tailored to your needs.
What is physiotherapy for muscles?
What is musculoskeletal physiotherapy? Musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapy is the treatment of a wide range of injuries, disorders and diseases that affect joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons.
What is neuromuscular physical therapy?
Neuromuscular therapy (NMT) is an integral form of treatment for men and women with neuromuscular disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or Parkinson's disease. The physical, occupational, and other therapies that are part of NMT help you stay active, manage your symptoms, and reduce relapse.
Does physiotherapy help muscle weakness?
Physiotherapy can help with muscle weakness as they are trained to maximise and improve function. This includes optimising the physical abilities through movement and exercise. Physiotherapy can: Increase muscle strength.
What is the best treatment for MD?
Drug Therapy. Certain medications can help delay damage to muscles or minimize the symptoms of MD. These can include the following: Glucocorticoids 4, 5 such as prednisone or deflazacort , which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating DMD in 2017.
How to help MD with facial weakness?
MD patients who experience weakness in the facial and throat muscles may benefit from speech therapy to teach them how to maximize their muscle strength. Some methods include slowing the pace of their speech, pausing more between breaths, 3 and using specialized communication equipment.
Why do MD patients have difficulty breathing?
Respiratory Therapy. Because the body relies on muscles such as the diaphragm to breathe, weakened muscles from MD may affect breathing. Many people with MD do not realize they have lost respiratory strength until they have difficulty coughing or an infection leads to pneumonia.
Does exon skipping cure DMD?
In exon skipping, more muscle protein is available and usable, even though it is shorter than the normal protein. FDA approved eteplirsen for treatment of DMD in 2016, 8 golodirsen in 2019, 9 and viltolarsen in 2020. 10 These treatments require weekly intravenous injection and do not cure DMD.
What can occupational therapists do for muscular dystrophy?
Occupational therapists at NYU Langone can help you relearn movements and abilities that involve muscles that have been weakened by muscular dystrophy. Occupational therapists also teach people with the condition to use assistive devices, such as walkers and wheelchairs.
What is the best treatment for muscular dystrophy?
Therapy for Muscular Dystrophy. Physical therapy and occupational therapy —both of which help with the activities of daily living—are recommended for people with all types of muscular dystrophy.
How to improve muscular dystrophy?
Regular aerobic exercise can help to improve self-esteem, wellbeing, and quality of life among people with muscular dystrophy. An NYU Langone doctor or physical therapist may recommend low-impact activities, such as swimming or walking, for both children and adults with this condition.
How can a physical therapist help you?
A physical therapist can help you keep your muscles and joints as flexible as possible by creating a muscle strengthening and stretching routine tailored to your symptoms.
Does Rusk Rehabilitation offer physical therapy?
Adults and children with muscular dystro phy often benefit from long-term physical and occupational therapy. The doctors and specialists at Rusk Rehabilitation are experienced in treating people with all forms of muscular dystro phy, at all stages of life.
What tests can be done to determine if you have muscular dystrophy?
Enzyme tests. Damaged muscles release enzymes, such as creatine kinase (CK), into your blood. In a person who hasn't had a traumatic injury, high blood levels of CK suggest a muscle disease. Genetic testing. Blood samples can be examined for mutations in some of the genes that cause types of muscular dystrophy.
How to keep joints flexible with muscular dystrophy?
Range-of-motion and stretching exercises. Muscular dystrophy can restrict the flexibility and mobility of joints. Limbs often draw inward and become fixed in that position. Range-of-motion exercises can help to keep joints as flexible as possible. Exercise.
What is the FDA approved medication for Duchenne Dystrophy?
Heart medications, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or beta blockers, if muscular dystrophy damages the heart.
Why do people with muscular dystrophy need a ventilator?
Some people with severe muscular dystrophy need to use a machine that forces air in and out of their lungs (ventilator).
What is muscle biopsy?
Muscle biopsy. A small piece of muscle can be removed through an incision or with a hollow needle. Analysis of the tissue sample can distinguish muscular dystrophies from other muscle diseases. Heart-monitoring tests (electrocardiography and echocardiogram).
When was Exondys 51 approved?
It was conditionally approved in 2016.
Can muscular dystrophy cause respiratory infections?
Respiratory infections can become a problem in muscular dystrophy. So, it's important to be vaccinated for pneumonia and to keep up to date with influenza shots. Try to avoid contact with children or adults who have an obvious infection.
What is occupational therapy?
Occupational therapists (OTs) are therapists who are able to help individuals across a lifespan participate in occupations/activities that are meaningful and purpose to everyday life . People with Duchenne may find it difficult to achieve the level of independence that they hoped for, especially as they age into adolescence and adult life. An OT can help a person modify or adapt their environment to optimize independence, facilitating the person’s ability to function as independently as possible at home, work, school, and the community.
What are the interventions of an OT?
Interventions that may be initiated or assisted by an OT, may include: splinting, adaptive equipment, assistive technology, accommodation programs for school (504 or IEP), pain management, or assisted caregiver training.
Is occupational therapy the same as physical therapy?
Occupational therapy differs from physical therapy, between facilities, depending on institutional organization and needs (acute care, inpatient and outpatient). Some institutions may offer more overlap in therapy care than others.
What is the role of occupational therapist in spinal muscular atrophy?
Answer. The occupational therapist plays an essential role in addressing the individual needs of patients with spinal muscular atrophy. Occupational therapy is useful for teaching the patient ways to increase his/her independence in activities of daily living (ADL). Fine motor skills may be affected by fatigue.
Can fatigue affect fine motor skills?
Fine motor skills may be affected by fatigue . Affected school-age patients may benefit from an occupational therapy consultation that addresses keyboarding and other ways to avoid fatigue from upper extremity activities in the classroom. Patients may eventually require the use of a wheelchair on a full-time basis.
Occupational Therapy Guidelines
Click here for a PDF of the Occupational Therapy Guidelines by Dr. Cynthia Gagnon, PhD, of Université Sherbrooke.
Physical Therapy Guidelines
Click here for a PDF of the Physical Therapy Guidelines by Dr. Shree Pandya, PT, DPT, MS, and Dr. Katy Eichinger, PT, DPT, NCS, of the University of Rochester.