Did you know that physical therapy can be beneficial for patients with muscular dystrophy? In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of physical therapy for these patients. Physical therapy can help to improve muscle strength and function, as well as reduce pain and improve quality of life. If you or a loved one has muscular dystrophy, be sure to talk to your doctor about whether physical therapy is right for you!
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What Is Muscular Dystrophy?
A muscular dystrophy is a group of disorders that affect the muscles and nervous system. Muscular dystrophy can cause muscle weakness and wasting, as well as problems with the heart and respiratory function.
There is no cure for muscular dystrophy, but physical therapy can help patients manage the symptoms and improve their quality of life.
What Type Of physical therapy Is Used For Muscular dystrophy?
There is various physical therapy used for muscular dystrophy. These are as follows:
Strengthening Exercises
These exercises help in improving muscle strength. For instance, weightlifting and other resistance exercises help in increasing the strength of muscles. It includes several repetitions with light to moderate weights.
Endurance Exercises
It helps in improving the endurance of muscles. For instance, walking, swimming, and other aerobic exercises help in increasing the endurance of muscles. It includes activities done for a long period at a moderate intensity.
Range-Of-Motion Exercises
It helps in improving the range of motion of joints. For instance, stretching exercises help in increasing the range of motion of joints. It includes moving your joints through their full range of motion.
Balance Exercises
It helps in improving balance and coordination. For instance, Tai Chi and Yoga help in improving balance and coordination. It includes a series of slow, controlled movements. It will help in developing strength, flexibility, and muscular endurance. This type of exercise helps in improving balance and coordination. It is especially beneficial for patients suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Mobility Exercises
These exercises help in maintaining joint range of motion and flexibility. For instance, stretching exercises help in keeping the muscles flexible. It includes:
Aerobic Exercise: It helps in maintaining the overall fitness of the body and also improves heart and lung function.
Resistance Training: As the name suggests, this type of exercise helps in strengthening the muscles. This is beneficial for patients suffering from muscular dystrophy as it helps in delaying the progression of the disease.
Postural Exercises
These exercises help in improving posture and alignment. For instance, the wall Slides exercise helps in strengthening the muscles of the chest and improving posture. It includes standing with your back against the wall and sliding up and down.
Apart from the above exercises, physical therapy also includes massages and electrical
stimulation. These help in reducing pain and spasms, and also improve blood circulation.
Massage
It helps in reducing pain and muscle spasms. For instance, deep tissue massage can help in breaking up the knots that form in muscles. The therapist will use his or her hands, elbows, and forearms to apply deep pressure to your muscles. This type of massage can be uncomfortable, but it’s usually very effective in reducing pain.
Electrical Stimulation
This is a process whereby electrical impulses are used to stimulate the muscles. This helps in reducing pain and improving blood circulation. For instance, if a person has muscular dystrophy and is unable to walk, electrical stimulation can help him/her regain the ability to walk.
Aqua Therapy
This is a special type of physical therapy that is done in water. It helps in providing resistance to the muscles and joints which helps in strengthening them. For instance, water therapy can help in improving the range of motion, flexibility, and endurance. It can also help in reducing pain and inflammation.
Orthotics
This is a type of device which is used to support the bones and joints. It helps in providing stability and alignment to the body. It can also help in preventing further deformities.
Physical therapy can help muscular dystrophy patients in various ways. It can help in maintaining joint range of motion, flexibility, and overall fitness.
It is an important part of the treatment for muscular dystrophy. It helps in maintaining muscle strength, improving range of motion, and reducing pain. It is important to consult a physical therapist to design a tailored exercise program according to the needs of the patient.
What Are The Benefits Of Physical Therapy For Muscular Dystrophy patients?
There are various benefits of physical therapy for muscular dystrophy patients. These are as follows:
Improves Muscle Strength
Physical therapy helps in improving muscle strength which is very important for patients suffering from muscular dystrophy. For instance, exercises that focus on a range of motion help to preserve the function of muscles and joints. Physical therapy also increases the endurance of patients. This is important as patients suffering from muscular dystrophy get tired easily.
Reduces Pain
Physical therapy also reduces pain caused by muscular dystrophy. This is done by using various techniques like electrical stimulation, massage, and heat or ice therapy. For example, electrical stimulation can help to reduce inflammation and muscle spasms. Massage can help to improve circulation and reduce pain. Heat or ice therapy can also help to reduce inflammation and pain.
Improves Cardiovascular Function
Another benefit of physical therapy for muscular dystrophy patients is that it helps in improving cardiovascular function. This is important because muscular dystrophy can lead to heart problems. Exercises that focus on cardiovascular fitness help to reduce the risk of heart problems.
Improves Flexibility
Physical therapy also helps in improving flexibility which is another important factor for people suffering from muscular dystrophy. This is important because muscular dystrophy can lead to joint problems. Exercises that focus on flexibility help to reduce the risk of joint problems.
Improves Balance
Physical therapy also helps in improving the balance of patients suffering from muscular dystrophy. This is important as patients suffering from this disease tend to fall easily.
Improves Quality of Life
Finally, physical therapy for muscular dystrophy patients also helps in improving the quality of life. This is done by helping patients manage their condition and by providing them with the necessary support.
Thus, we can see that there are various benefits of physical therapy for muscular dystrophy patients. If you or someone you know is suffering from this disease, then do consider physical therapy as it can help in improving the quality of life.
Conclusion
It may be concluded that physical therapy for muscular dystrophy patients can help to improve the quality of their lives in several ways. The therapy can help to reduce pain, increase mobility, and improve strength and endurance. In addition, physical therapy can also help to improve the patient’s mental well-being by providing a sense of accomplishment and social interaction. Therefore, muscular dystrophy patients need to receive physical therapy as part of their treatment plan.
Physical Therapy help patients recover from pain. If you’re experiencing Back pain, Shoulder pain, Knee pain, Neck pain, Elbow pain, Hip pain, or Arthritis pain, a physical therapist at MantraCare can help: Book a physiotherapy session.
