Principles of Rehabilitation in Neuromuscular Disorders

In neuromuscular disorders (NMDs), impairments such as progressive muscular weakness and atrophy, contracture, limited range of motion, poor balance, falls, sensory loss, painful foot, spine deformities, fatigue, and limited respiratory capacity lead to restriction in activities of daily living and affect quality of life. Strengthening exercises combined with respiratory management, aerobic endurance training, assistive devices, and manual therapy tailored to impairments can form a comprehensive rehabilitation plan. It forms an integral part of neuromuscular disorders. Physiotherapy and rehabilitation programs help to maintain muscle strength, functional capacity, and quality of life as long as possible and to keep the patient in social life. In many neuromuscular diseases, the lack of therapeutic approaches increases the importance of preventive, supportive, compensatory, and rehabilitative strategies. However, the goals and mode of therapy often need to be clarified to the patient and overexertion can lead to detrimental effects in some diseases (Demir 2017).