Functional Movement Disorder Therapy
Functional movement disorder affects your motor skills. However, therapy can improve your response to the condition. Contact us to start your healing journey.
What is Functional Movement Disorder?
Functional movement disorder or functional neurologic disorder resembles other movement conditions. However, unlike other movement disorders, it is not due to a neurological disease.
Primarily, FMD affects the nervous system’s functioning and how the body and the brain send or receive signals. It is also referred to as conversion disorder.
FMD/FND features neurological symptoms. But, unlike other movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease, they cannot be explained by a condition or disease affecting the neurological system. That said, the symptoms cause distress and increased functioning problems. Patients may experience symptoms such as weakness of the limbs and seizures.
Typically, functional movement disorder affects senses, movement, where the symptoms vary in severity. The ability to intentionally control or produce the symptoms is impaired. It is also a condition that is said to have an overlap between psychological and neurological specialties. However, there are many variations from one patient to another, requiring tailored FND/FMD treatment.
What Causes Functional Movement Disorder?
Experts aren’t sure what causes FMD. A neurological disorder can trigger the condition. Additionally, reactions to stress, physical or psychological trauma are also triggers though it is not always the case.
Functional movement disorder is closely related to the brain’s functions instead of the brain’s structure damage. Diagnosing the condition early and starting treatment is essential in recovery. FND is progressive and delayed treatment can make the condition worse. Some patients with underlying neurological conditions can be at risk of getting the disorder.
Signs and Symptoms of Functional Movement Disorder
Signs and symptoms of the disorder vary because it depends on the type of functional neurological condition. These disorders are varied, and they cause significant impairment, warranting medical attention. A patient can experience the following symptoms.
- Paralysis or weakness
- Abnormal movement such as having tremors or being unable to walk
- Having unresponsive episodes
- losing balance
- Difficulty swallowing or experiencing a lumpy throat
- Poor balance and gait
- non-epileptic seizures or bouts of shaking and losing consciousness
The condition also affects a patient’s sense leading to:
- Loss of touch sensation or becoming numb
- Loss of speaking ability or slurring speech
- Deafness or hearing problems
- Issues with sight, such as blindness or double vision
Not addressing some of these symptoms can result in disability and reduced life quality. OneRehab has a world-class functional movement disorder clinic in Richarson to help you manage this condition.
FMD Diagnosis
There are no standard tests to see if one has FND. Mostly, doctors assess existing symptoms to rule out any other medical conditions or neurological conditions. A patient’s symptom patterns can indicate the existence of the disorder. MRI structural changes or EEG abnormalities.
Risk factors
- Epilepsy, migraines, or other neurological disorders can put one at risk of developing the disorder.
- Patients with mental health problems such as dissociative, mood, anxiety, or other personality disorders
- Physical and emotional trauma or significant stress
- Genetics where you have a family member with a functional neurological disorder
- If there is a history of sexual or physical abuse or neglect as a child
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Related Conditions
The functional neurological disorder can co-exist alongside other conditions in the body. A patient can have functional movement disorder and neurological diseases such as stroke. The diagnosis requires a neurologist to monitor the symptoms relating to FND.
Depression and anxiety can also cause an overlap in symptoms. However, the two are pretty popular among patients with FMD, although not all patients experience depression or anxiety. A psychiatrist can be present during diagnosis to help differentiate.
Another symptom of functional movement disorder is chronic pain. It is closely linked to the affected functioning of the nervous system. Pain disorders can be linked to sleep disturbance, fatigue, migraines, and poor concentration.
Due to these related conditions, it is crucial not to link any new symptom to functional movement disorder. Qualified health professionals can assess the symptoms while conducting appropriate investigations to get the best diagnosis.
Management/Treatment
Functional movement disorder treatment depends on the particular. However, after the condition diagnosis, it is vital to seek medical attention. At OneRehab, we provide unmatched functional movement disorder physical therapy to help reduce the symptoms.
FMD Physical Therapy
A patient experiencing motor impairment can benefit from physical therapy. Our skilled physical therapy team provides a holistic approach to help manage the condition. The exercise aims at improving limb strength, resolving gait issues and movement disorders.
Our uniquely designed physiotherapy for functional neural disorder helps a patient relearn and retain movement. It encourages automatic movement, thus reducing abnormal brain patterns affecting movement.
Speech Therapy
Apart from affecting mobility, FMD can also affect your senses and ability to speak. When speech is impaired, a patient can go through speech therapy. Our professional team employs the best technique to create and formulate an individualized treatment, thus managing the condition based on patients' needs.
Psychological Therapy
Patients with FND benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). More so, patients experiencing non-epileptic seizures. With this, patients can learn about their attacks and recognize the warnings before they happen, helping to regain control.
Therapy entails patients assessing their thoughts, emotions, and experiences playing a role in developing symptoms. When functional neurological disorder occurs as a result of stress, psychological therapy helps in managing the illness. At our functional movement disorder therapy center, we help identify and formulate the best form of treatment. For patients who do not experience anxiety or panic attacks, psychological therapies boost confidence.
Functional Movement Disorder Occupational Therapy
FMD significantly affects a person’s confidence at home and in performing various tasks. Working with our top therapists helps a patient regain this confidence. Under the program, patients gradually adapt to the condition and acquire the confidence to do some chores at home or office.
OneRehab | Richardson
1761 International Pkwy Suite 135, Richardson, TX 75081, United States
OneRehab | Dallas
6080 N Central Expy #125 Dallas, TX 75206
Email Us
info@onerehab.com
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972 845 7875
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