Should We Use Specialized Physiotherapy to Treat Functional Motor Disorders?

A randomized trial showed similar benefits from a short specialized intervention compared with usual physiotherapy.

A functional neurologic disorder (FND), previously referred to as a conversion or psychogenic disorder, has preserved brain structure on MRI and is thought to be caused by disordered brain networks. In these cases, the physical and neurological symptoms cannot be explained by standard diagnostic studies (JAMA Neurol 2018; 75:1132). The role of specialized physiotherapy in the treatment of functional motor disorder remains unknown. In this trial, researchers assessed the clinical effectiveness of a specialist physiotherapy intervention for functional motor disorder and compared it with usual physiotherapy treatment in a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial conducted at 11 hospitals across England and Scotland. Participants re…

Reviewing Author

Michael S. Okun, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardParkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America

Speaker’s BureauMedscape/WebMD CME, Movement Disorders Society CME, American Academy of Neurology CME

RoyaltiesBooks4Patients; Demos; Cambridge; Taylor and Francis; Robert Rose; Public Affairs

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health; Parkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America; University of Florida Foundation

Editorial BoardsTremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements; JAMA Neurology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesParkinson’s Foundation (Medical Advisor)