Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy treatment programmes are tailored to the individual needs of each person. Following an initial asssessment the physiotherapist draws up a physiotherapy regime specific to each patient.
The regime is adjusted appropriately following reassessment when the patient has made progress, or when the symptoms of MS change due to disease activity. Using this as a basis, MS patients can be shown how to help themselves regain movement and co-ordination.
Individual patients are encouraged to monitor their own progress resulting from their programme of exercise, and to use the gains made through treatment in activities of daily living.
As no two people with MS present with exactly the same physiotherapy needs, all the sessions are on a one to one basis. This enables the physiotherapist to work on particular problem areas.
Physiotherapy has a vital role to play in helping people to cope with the daily challenges of living with MS. We use a neurological approach to physio to enable MS patients to:-
- Learn to control and co-ordinate movement patterns.
- Reduce spasticity and encourage more normal movements
- Regain functional abilities
Physio can teach someone the importance of good posture and correct movement in everyday activities such as sitting, walking, rising from a sitting or lying position. People often find that symtoms of fatigue can improve if a good posture is achieved. The therapist and patient work together to achieve more normal and easier movement so that the patient can enjoy the greatest degree of independence possible and reach their full physical potential.
The Physiotherapist can also instruct the patient in how to prevent secondary disability which may arise from disuse.
We believe that a physiotherapy assessment is important even for newly diagnosed patients who may not have any obvious physical problems. A physiotherapist can give good sound professional advice and any minor problems which may not always be obvious to the patient, may be picked up by the physiotherapist and corrected before they become too much of a problem.
Download a leaflet on physiotherapy here.