hand therapy with a ball

Neuromuscular Rehabilitation

Neuromuscular disorders affect your neuromuscular system.

Common neuromuscular disorders are:

  • Stroke
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Spinal cord injury (SCI)
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
  • Parkinson’s disease

These disorders can cause your muscles to become weak and waste away. You may also have symptoms such as spasms, twitching, and pain.

Your neuromuscular system involves:

  • The nerves that control your muscles
  • Your muscles
  • Communication between your nerves and muscles

Neuromuscular therapy addresses arm function for patients that have a neurologic condition and works to improve activities of daily living.

Our Goals:

  • Assess and measure arm functioning
  • Improve motion, coordination, and sensation (feeling) in the upper arm and hand
  • Manage tone and spasticity (muscle stiffness or uncontrollable spasms) related to stoke or other neurologic diagnoses
  • Recommend adaptive equipment (devices to assist with daily living) to maximize independence
  • Improve the patient’s ability to complete activities

What to Expect:

  • Assessment of functional status (ability to physically perform activities such as self-care, being mobile, and independence) at home or in the community.
  • Measurement of arm motion, coordination, strength, and sensation (physical feeling)
  • Provide home programming (usually arm exercises) to restore and maximize arm functioning
  • Clinic based exercises
  • Manual (physical) therapy
  • Recommend adaptive equipment for safety and greater independence
  • Teaching of strategies to improve function, such as organization skills, planning ahead, making lists
  • Use of electrical stimulation to restore arm functioning
  • Use of splints as needed to manage pain and joint stiffness

Many neuromuscular diseases have no cure. But treatments may improve symptoms, increase mobility, and lengthen life.

A referral to Occupational Therapy is required from your provider.

Fax referrals to 612-873-1989