Physiotherapy for patients with functional movement disorder: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Functional movement disorder (FMD) is a prevalent neurological condition requiring effective rehabilitation strategies.
• Physiotherapy is a key intervention for motor recovery in FMD patients, with its efficacy extensively researched.

Approach:

• This systematic review adhered to PRISMA guidelines, analyzing randomized controlled trials.
• Searches were conducted across four electronic databases for studies evaluating specialized physiotherapy interventions for FMD.

Key Points:

• The review included 4 studies with 188 participants, assessing motor symptoms, activity, perceived health, quality of life, and cognitive/emotional states.
• Methodological quality varied, with 3 studies rated as moderate and 1 as poor.
• Specialized physiotherapy interventions were compared against standard physiotherapy.

Conclusions:

• Physiotherapy demonstrates significant improvements in motor symptoms and functional activities such as gait, mobility, and balance in FMD patients.
• The evidence indicates positive impacts of physiotherapy on perceived health and quality of life for individuals with FMD.