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Motor Neuron Disease

Overview and symptoms

Background

Motor neurone disease (MND) is an uncommon condition that affects the brain and nerves. 

It is best described as a progressive deterioration of brain cells and motor neurons.

Motor neurons carry messages from the brain to the muscles via the spinal cord. These messages allow us to make movements like walking, swallowing, talking and breathing. In motor neurone disease, the nerves become damaged and start to die. When this happens, muscles start to weaken and waste away.

 

There's no cure for MND, but there are treatments to help reduce the impact it has on a person's daily life. Some people live with the condition for many years.

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Symptoms of Motor Neuron Disease happen gradually and may not be obvious at first.

Early symptoms can include:

  • Weakness in your ankle or leg – you might trip, or find it harder to climb stairs

  • Slurred speech, which may develop into difficulty swallowing some foods

  • A weak grip – you might drop things, or find it hard to open jars or do up buttons

  • Muscle cramps and twitches

  • Weight loss – your arms or leg muscles may have become thinner over time

  • Difficulty stopping yourself from crying or laughing in inappropriate situations

How physiotherapy can help

Exercise for

MND

Once the motor neurons that control a particular muscle have weakened, the muscle

cannot be repaired by exercise or anything else. However, exercise can help to keep

weakened muscles as strong as possible. Seeking support from a physiotherapist will help ensure you get an exercise programme

that is suited to your individual needs and gives you most benefit:

 

• Keep you mobile for as long as possible, by preventing muscles and joints from becoming stiff

 • Maintain maximum range of movement (ROM) of joints and help support posture and balance

 • Maintain comfort and reduce problems linked to muscle weakness and stiff joints

 • Maintain circulation through active muscle movement

What we offer and how we can help

Neuro Spark Rehab services for MND

More information coming soon

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