How we can help
Symptoms of dystonia
Treatment for dystonia (a neurological muscle movement disorder) is best done in conjunction with your medical team. If the cause of your dystonia is unknown, or you are not under a specialist medical team, with your permission, we’ll talk with your GP regarding referral to appropriate specialist doctors. Medical management of Dystonia may include medication, injection of botulinum toxin, or in severe cases, Deep Brain Stimulation may be considered.
Physiotherapy
After a thorough personal assessment to help us understand your story and unique challenges, we’ll do a physical assessment. These assessments give us a clearer picture of your situation, and how we can work together to maximise function and help you achieve your goals.
Therapy may include:
- Functional training to improve everyday activities
- Strengthening exercises
- Stretching techniques to manage muscles tightness
If you have received botulinum toxin injections, we will time your physiotherapy
sessions to optimise their effectiveness.
Additionally, if needed, we may refer you to a
therapist for serial casting, a technique that can help lengthen tight muscles.
Lisa’s Story
Background
Lisa had experienced dystonia symptoms for over 15 years before receiving a diagnosis in 2012. In 2016, she underwent Deep Brain Stimulation surgery to help manage her symptoms. When Lisa first visited us in 2023, she was struggling to engage in the activities she loved, such as walking on the beach, due to balance difficulties and a fear of falling.
Her challenges
When we first saw Lisa, she was experiencing:
- Balance issues
- Fear of falls
- Fatigue
Her goals
Lisa aimed to:
- Improve her confidence when moving around in the community
- Walk on the beach safely
- Enhance her balance and overall movement control
Her physiotherapy journey
Lisa’s physiotherapy journey started off gently with lots of encouragement from her team and a variety of exercises to start improving her strength, balance and confidence. Lisa’s journey has been challenging, but she has participated in the weekly balance class at the clinic and worked closely with a physiotherapist to improve her balance and confidence.
Her successes
Over time, Lisa achieved her primary goal of walking on the beach again. She also gained confidence in walking outdoors with a reduced fear of falling. Moving forward, Lisa plans to continue her balance exercises in our weekly classes, alongside fortnightly physiotherapy sessions, to maintain her strength and prevent future mobility challenges.
How to get Started
If dystonia is impacting your daily life, physiotherapy may help improve your mobility, confidence, and overall function.
