Question

Peripheral Neuropathy - How Can Physiotherapy Take Care Of It?

Aktiv Health Centre · Accepted Answer

Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is damage to or disease affecting nerves, which may impair sensation, movement, gland or organ function, and affects other aspects of health, depending on the type of nerve affected. The treatment by a physical therapist helps in reducing symptoms and improves an individual s quality of life. As the cause, type, and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy can vary, the approach to care also varies. Physical therapy is helpful in maintaining strength, mobility, and function.

Strengthening exercises for peripheral neuropathy moderately improve muscle strength. Exercising can help, when done regularly. They further reduce the neuropathic pain and also helps in controlling the blood sugar levels.

Objectives of physiotherapy include:

Maintaining and improving functions via a range of motion through stretching.

Strengthening muscles which include exercising against increasing resistance, use of weights and isometric exercise.

Balance training helps in providing stability and prevents falls.

Braces or splints can be used to enhance balance and posture.

Splinting is used in the treatment of compression mononeuropathies, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Following recommendations and care are provided by physiotherapist:

Moderate intensity exercise- It helps to improve strength and physical function.

Never gliding activities- Includes exercises shown by a physiotherapist who will help you move and glide your nerves.

Balance and coordination activities - Your physiotherapist works on strategies to improve your balance and coordination. Improving balance and coordination helps to decrease your risk of falling and injuries that arise due to it. Balance exercises are a crucial part of the recovery of peripheral neuropathy. Balance training is important in overcoming the feeling of stiffness and unsteadiness, especially among elderly people.

Education Your physiotherapist educates you on how to safely manage peripheral neuropathy. It mainly focuses on improving your safety, preventing further complications, and finding alternative ways to perform certain tasks.

Kinetic therapy in peripheral nerve injuries- It should not be started until the late stage of nerve regeneration when progressive strength return can be seen. After an injury to the nerve, physiotherapeutic methods are used to eliminate paresis and to restore the normal function of muscles as well as to improve circulation.

Electrostimulation It plays an important role in the treatment of various neuromuscular dysfunctions.

Magnetotherapy- It is used where a pulsed low-frequency magnetic field is applied. It has well-known effects on enhancing enzymatic activity, oxy-reductive processes and proper blood circulation resulting in better oxidation and conduction characteristics of regenerating peripheral nerves. It enhances the regeneration of nerve fibers.

Bio-laser stimulation- where low energy biostimulation lasers are used in palatial, continuous manner. Laser radiation can also be used to rejoin the nerve stumps.

Neuropathy Health Feed

Peripheral Neuropathy - How Can Physiotherapy Take Care Of It?

Hi, My is age 83. I am Suffering from burning fingers of both the feet. Afraid of walking on a wet surface. Having hpb for last 20 yrs. No other problem. Regularly taking medicines for hbp.

I have gained around 9 kgs in 6 months period. I ate more no. Of cakes and pizzas during that 6 months. Now since 3 weeks am having severe foot pain and burning sensation in foot, more at night times. Is it becoz of over weight or any other problem. Which diet is best for weight loss?

I have constant pain, tingling and burning sensation in the feet. More typically in the arc of the feet. I would love to have constant massages. But gives only temporary relief. This even more during the night. I'm 30-year-old single women in an office job.

Hi Sir, meri age 22 years hai. Pichhle 7 dino se meri hath pair or body me jhunjhunahat si feel ho rahi hai iska kya karan ho sakta hai.

Hi, My age 21 years. Actually I have a problem since few days while eating any solid or hard thing like chapati, papa etc I feel twitch in my brain. And when we once over the eating of solid material it becomes normal. What is the reason behind this?

I felt and my hand is inflamed, it comes not from the canal carpien but the smaller, the thumb lost his mobility. The x-ray is ok. But since 4.5 months I have a burning sensation. What to do?

The patients of peripheral neuropathy get relief with warm water bath. Should they go for warm water in summer season also? What are the stages of peripheral neuropathy?

I am working in construction industry. I wear safety shoe. Nowadays my foots are burning during work and it continues till night. It is there from past one month.

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