Motor Neurone Disease

Every individual with motor neurone disease presents with different symptoms and needs throughout the progression of the disease. There is a range of settings which may be appropriate depending on your therapy goals and requirements ranging from therapy sessions at our outpatient clinics, inpatient rehabilitation with or without nursing care, or community-based therapy.  Each individual will be assessed by their treating therapist and have treatment tailored to their needs and goals.

Some of the physiotherapy treatments Hobbs Rehabilitation will help:

• Increase muscle strength through strengthening and mobilisation exercises
• Improve postural alignment through mobilisation and strengthening
• Improve balance and mobility through assessment of different seating and mobility aids plus postural re-education
• Reduce muscle stiffness, spasms and pain through stretching programmes
• Reduce the risk of falls through balance work, gait re-education and training
• Increase independence and quality of life through management of positioning in bed and seating

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Individuals with motor neurone disease have different needs and goals depending on the progression of the condition, therefore our Hobbs Rehabilitation occupational therapists aim to improve areas of your personal care, work or leisure that are becoming difficult.

Our occupational therapists can achieve this through:

• Functional activities independently or in groups
• Assessing function in your own environment and establish any needs for equipment, adaptations, or further rehabilitation
• Hand therapy including splinting and exercise programmes
• Advice and management of pressure relief through bed positioning and seating adaptations

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Individuals with motor neurone disease can often experience difficulties with their speech and swallowing. Difficulties in written and non-verbal communication can also be experienced. Our specialist speech and language therapists can assist with:

• Comprehensive assessment of speech, language and communication
• Comprehensive assessment of swallow
• Recommendations, therapy plans and home exercise programmes for communication therapy (if indicated)
• Recommendations, therapy plans and home exercise programmes for rehabilitation of the swallow (if indicated)
• Training for family and carers on how to communicate with someone with dysphasia
• Advice and management with communication aids
• Treatment at the centre or in your own home
• Assistance with written communication including adaptive equipment

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Motor neurone disease is a neurological condition that affects the nervous system. Motor nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord die prematurely or do not work properly and this then affects walking, using hands and arms, speaking, swallowing and breathing. It is progressive and life-shortening and can deteriorate quite quickly.

The NHS is a vital part of the process of diagnosing and managing the condition from first diagnosis to end-of-life care. NHS Clinical Nurse specialists in Neurology play a vital role in ensuring those with the diagnosis, and their loved ones, get the support they need in a coordinated and timely way. This might include, depending on the type of motor neurone disease diagnosed, adaptive equipment, both to help people breathe and/or to help them communicate and control their environment using a range of devices and software. Those with the condition often require specialist seating and profiling beds. With time they will require trained carers to assist them with a range of daily tasks. Again, all this support, including getting the funding for it, is best coordinated by your NHS team.

Clinical Neuropsychologists at Hobbs Rehabilitation have experience assisting those with motor neurone disease, and their loved ones, and can contribute to the NHS team around you in a number of ways:

• Assisting with the process of gradually adjusting to the diagnosis
• Helping with emotional reactions to a loss of physical control of the environment and being more and more reliant on others. These emotional reactions are often normal and understandable but nevertheless can become extreme for some and get in the way of what you want to do
• Providing a confidential space for you to discuss issues that are sometimes difficult to discuss with family/friends
• Providing support for loved ones
• Helping you, your loved ones and your team understand possible cognitive changes if applicable
• Informing your NHS care and being part of the team helps you to adjust and live the fullest life in the time available  according to what is important to you

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