Physiotherapy for Muscle Weakness

Physiotherapy treatment will improve muscle strength, making activities important to you easier to achieve and increasing your confidence and independence with these tasks. Physiotherapy treatment may target:

• Partial or complete paralysis of muscles
• Hemiplegia - half the body is weakened
• Dystonia - involuntary contraction of muscles
• Spasticity - increased muscle tone
• Soft tissue contractures - muscle stiffness

Neurological physiotherapy will first assess how your muscles are functioning and then devise a structured rehabilitation programme centred around you and your needs. Physiotherapy treatment will focus on:

• A progressive exercise programme based around everyday activities, using your muscles correctly and as often as possible.
• Active movement of muscles and joints using different equipment e.g. gravity, theraband, free weights or a gym ball to activate muscles and get them working again.
• Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) to stimulate the nerve supplying the muscles.
• Advise about use of supportive devices and orthotics to improve physical functioning.
• Advice and support on how to continue improving outside the treatment session. For example, daily activity based around your home, work and social life.

Your physiotherapist will also develop short and long term goals that are functional and suited to you. Neurological physiotherapy treatment will improve your muscle function and quality of life.