Therapy Benefits For Neuropathy

Today's post from neuropathytreatments.com (see link below) talks about various forms of therapy as a means of maintaining mobility for neuropathy sufferers. We know we should exercise and try to prevent loss of muscle strength but it's often easier said than done. Having a qualified therapist on hand to stimulate you to take action may well be the best way of ensuring that we're doing the right forms of exercise and at the correct pace. We're less likely to give up if someone is there to urge us on but there is no doubting the benefit of physical therapy for people whose movements are restricted by nerve damage.

See The Benefits Therapy Could Have On Neuropathy
MONTHLY ARCHIVES: FEBRUARY 2013 Posted on February 15, 2013

Therapy could have a profound effect on the mobility of a person making the treatment a successful one for most neuropathy sufferers. Neuropathy does not have to decrease mobility therapy is a great solution for nerve pain and the symptoms that it causes.

Physical Therapy

There are several goals or objectives to participating in physical therapy after being diagnosed with neuropathy.
Maintaining a full range of motion
Strengthening muscles that may have been weakened from the effect of neuropathy

Though a neuropathic patient may reach their goal of movement and pain tolerance when walking, it would be unwise to stop participating in physical therapy. Neuropathy patients should continue to adhere to their physical therapist maintenance instructions to avoid taking a step backwards in their therapy progress. For those neuropathic patients that suffer from diabetic neuropathy specifically should not solely rely on physical therapy as their form of neuropathy treatment, diabetic neuropathy sufferers must focus their time and energy on maintaining their blood sugar levels as their first and foremost form of neuropathy treatment.

Occupational Therapy

Due to the devastation that neuropathy can have on an individual’s life and daily normality, it is often advised that the recently diagnosed neuropathy patient seek out occupational therapy. Occupational therapy is vital in helping newly diagnosed neuropathy patients learn coping mechanisms on how to live life with their new diagnosis. Occupational therapy can assist the patient by teaching valuable new life skills as well as limit the devastating impact that peripheral neuropathy can have on daily life by:

Improving sensory motor skills

Educates patients on how to avoid dangerous toxins and prevent exposing themselves to industrial or environmental hazards

How to self-care

Educates neuropathy patients on the importance of observation such as terrain changes, safely walking up and down stairs etc.

How to safely sit, stand and walk that will not risk a drop in blood pressure or cause them to fall.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is looked at as a complimentary therapy that when used in combination with other treatments can be beneficial in reducing nerve pain. One complication of neuropathy is the development of still muscles due to poor circulation or from lack of use. Adding weekly massage therapy sessions, one can improve blood circulation as well as help loosen stiffened muscles thus providing relief to the damaged area. It appears as though research has shown through several studies that massage therapy has a way of calming the stressed nerve endings and relinquishing the pent up stress found in the nerve endings.

http://neuropathytreatments.com/2013/02/