Occupational therapists play many roles to support independence and safety in people with DMD.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive condition that causes muscles all over your body to weaken. DMD currently has no cure, and treatment focuses on maintaining independence and improving quality of life.

That’s where occupational therapists (OTs) come in. Occupational therapy has been an essential part of DMD care for many years. OTs can identify challenges in your home, school, and work environments and help you find ways to adapt your environment as your abilities change over time.

Here are some of the ways an OT can help you manage DMD.

OTs can help you address challenges that might otherwise prevent you from completing typical daily tasks. For example, they can help you manage your pain and energy levels and set you up with assistive devices if needed.

Preserving/regaining motor skills

As muscle loss progresses, an OT can teach you stretches and exercises to help you maintain your strength and mobility. They can also fit you for braces or splints, which can help keep your joints more flexible. These devices can help prevent your muscles from getting shorter and tighter, which would reduce your range of motion.

Compensating for muscle weakness

OTs play an important role in assessing your muscle strength and flexibility. As your strength and flexibility change, your OT can recommend ways to modify tasks so you can maintain your independence. As certain tasks become more difficult, your OT can help you find assistive devices to help.

Helping with pain management

You may experience more pain as your mobility and range of motion change. An OT can work with you to develop a stretching plan to prevent or manage pain. They can also suggest equipment to improve your posture and positioning, such as special seat cushions or braces.

Conserving energy and choosing appropriate activities

An OT will get to know you and understand what’s most important to you. If you have limited mobility and energy, your OT can help you create a plan to pace yourself and prioritize your energy for the things that really matter to you. They can suggest ways to use less energy while doing the things you love.

As your strength and mobility change, you may be at greater risk of injury. Muscle weakness can also increase your risk of falling.

Long-term corticosteroid use is beneficial, but one of the downsides is that these medications can make your bones weaker. This means fall prevention is even more important if you’re taking corticosteroids.

Preventing or managing fractures

OTs can assess your home, school, and work environments to identify possible fall risks. They may recommend changes in seating or transfer equipment or the addition of safety equipment.

If you do experience a fracture, an OT is one of the specialists who can provide support as you heal. Your OT can help you access any equipment you might need and help with bracing and beneficial exercises.

Helping to prevent muscle contractures

Contractures are a common complication of DMD. They happen when your muscles shorten, causing reduced movement, stiffness, and pain.

An OT can help you prevent contractures by developing an exercise and stretching plan to keep your muscles and joints more flexible. They can also set you up with supportive equipment or chairs to improve your body position.

Reducing the chance of falls

Falls become more common in DMD as flexibility and strength decrease. An OT can assess your risk of falling and find ways to improve your safety and balance.

For example, they can evaluate the layout of your home and suggest ways to reduce the risk of falls. They might recommend adding safety equipment such as grab bars or stairlifts.

One of the goals of DMD treatment is to support your independence. An OT can assess your needs and find ways to help you keep doing the things you want and need to do for longer.

Learning to use mobility aids

Mobility aids such as walkers, braces, and wheelchairs aren’t one-size-fits-all. There’s a process to finding the right size and type of equipment to meet your needs. An OT can help you problem-solve until you find equipment that works for you. They can also help you practice with your new tools until you’re comfortable using them.

Adapting self-care tasks

An OT can provide support related to daily tasks like brushing your teeth, feeding yourself, and getting dressed. As your abilities change, an OT can help you adapt so that you can do these things independently for longer. You may be able to use tools to make these tasks easier.

Getting recommendations for home accessibility

As your mobility changes, you might need to make changes to your home. Your OT can evaluate the layout of your home and may recommend changes such as widening doorways, changing a room’s setup, or adding ramps. An OT can also recommend how to arrange a space, such as your kitchen, so that everything is still within reach.

Even as your abilities change, you deserve to enjoy hobbies and maintain social connections. An OT can help you find ways to conserve your energy and maintain mobility so that you can stay involved in the things you want to do.

People with DMD have higher rates of depression and anxiety than those without the condition. Staying connected with others can help protect your mental health.

As part of your healthcare team, your OT will communicate with the other members of your team. Each member of your healthcare team has a unique skill set and perspective.

An OT can evaluate your abilities and challenges and make recommendations to the other members of your care team to ensure that you get the best care to meet your needs.

Occupational therapists play an important role in helping you manage DMD. They can support you in daily tasks and help you manage pain and energy levels. They are experts when it comes to adapting your home, work, and school environments so that you can stay independent longer.