Children's Neuromuscular Physiotherapy
The specialist neuromuscular physiotherapy service is based at the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales.
A physiotherapist will be involved in the care and management of those patients with neuromuscular disorders across South East Wales.
The different types of neuromuscular disorders include:
- Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
- Becker’s Muscular Dystrophy
- Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy
- Congenital Muscular Dystrophy – Bethlem, Ullric, Rigid Spine, Merosin deficient
- Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy
- Myotonic Dystrophy
- Peripheral Neuropathies – Charcot-Marie Tooth / Hereditary Sensory Motor Neuropathy
- Congenital Myopathies – Nemaline, Myotubular, Central Core
- Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy – Type I, Type II & Type III
Physiotherapy Treatments
Patients are normally reviewed alongside a paediatric neurologist and care advisor in a clinic to help support, advise and co-ordinate their local care. The specialist physiotherapist will review and clinically assess patients every 6-12 months to monitor the patients’ function and advise timely intervention with the wider multi-disciplinary team. The physiotherapist will also link with the patient and their family when they are having surgery.
Therapy involvement includes:
- Practical specialist advice for the patient, their family and school
- Exercise or stretching programmes
- Use of equipment such as walkers, standing frames, wheelchairs, orthotics
Useful websites
- Muscular Dystrophy UK – Supporting all neuromuscular disorders
- Duchenne UK – for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy UK
- Treat Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- Charcot-Marie Tooth for Peripheral Neuropathies
- Myotonic Dystrophy Support Group
- Myasthenia (Congenital or Gravis)
Contact details
Contact: 02921 841960