Background: Functional Neurological Disorder is described as a sudden onset of abnormal motor behaviors without any other disease process explaining the symptoms. There is a wide range of symptoms this patient population may exhibit, so becoming familiar with the key indicators will be essential for a quick diagnosis, and therefore, an improved treatment and intervention approach. Purpose: The purpose of this case report is to highlight the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and rehabilitation management used to improve the ambulation of a male with FND. Case Description: Patient is a 66-year-old male who presented with aphasia and right sided weakness, who received a primary diagnosis of FND seven days after symptom onset. Physical therapy interventions consisted of gradually progressing from sit to stand, to weight shifting, to steps, to ambulating, with decreasing physical assistance. Outcomes: The patient received 4 physical therapy sessions, in addition to the evaluation, during his 10-day tertiary- and quaternary-level health care facility admission. The patient progressed from maximum assist of 2 for sit-to-stand to ambulating 320 feet with a front wheeled walker with stand-by assist and demonstrated ability to navigate stairs. Discussion: This case report demonstrates this patient’s sudden onset of symptoms which spontaneously achieved close to remission during the hospital stay. The patient began showing improvement in symptoms with initiation of physical therapy, which utilized certain treatment strategies to facilitate the session for FND patients. There is literature surrounding treatment strategies employed for this patient population, however there is a lack in the literature regarding optimal dose and frequency of physical therapy, standardized outcome measures, and the effect of external motivators on physical therapy progress.
Dissertation
Addressing the Clinical Presentation of Functional Neurological Disorder and the Management of Rehabilitation and Return to Ambulation: A Case Report
University of Iowa
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) , University of Iowa
Autumn 2022
Free to read and download, Open Access
Abstract
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Addressing the Clinical Presentation of Functional Neurological Disorder and the Management of Rehabilitation and Return to Ambulation: A Case Report
- Creators
- Melania Torchalski - University of Iowa
- Contributors
- Laura Frey-Law (Advisor) - University of IowaMichael Petrie (Advisor) - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Project Type
- Case Report
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) , University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science
- Date degree season
- Autumn 2022
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- 11 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2022 Melania Torchalski
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Doctor of Physical Therapy Case Reports
- Record Identifier
- 9984560350002771
Metrics
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