Curarization therapy

What is Curarization Therapy?

Curarization Therapy is a form of treatment used for people who suffer from muscular dystrophy or other neuromuscular diseases. This therapy uses specific drugs to relax the muscles, and allows physical therapy staff to stimulate and strengthen them in a safe, controlled environment.

Many people with muscular dystrophy are unable to move their muscles enough to make significant functional gains in strength, balance and coordination. Curarization Therapy relaxes and temporarily paralyzes the muscles, allowing the physical therapy staff to achieve multiple, concentrated muscle contractions; stimulating, strengthening or stretching the affected muscles. The process is totally noninvasive and done with drugs alone.

Benefits of Curarization Therapy

The main advantage of using curarization therapy is that it produces multiple muscle contractions in a safe, controlled environment. It also eliminates the need for anesthesia, which can be dangerous and can increase the risk of complications.

Curarization also helps patients with neuromuscular conditions to gain functional muscular control. During a Curarization Therapy session, physical therapists are able to help the patient focus on a specific area of muscle or set of muscles, exercising them beyond what is possible when the muscles are actively contracted.

Curarization Therapy can also speed up the rehabilitation process. By allowing muscle contractions to be concentrated in a single area, the amount of time it takes for the patient to increase strength and coordination can be cut in half or even more.

How Curarization Therapy Works

Curarization Therapy is administered by professionally trained physical therapy personnel under the direct supervision of a physician. Different muscle groups can be targeted one at a time, and each session can be tailored to the individual patient's needs.

The most commonly used drugs during Curarization Therapy are d-tubocurarine and spasmolytic. These are administrated directly into the muscle via a needle but can also be administered via the bloodstream or in the form of a topical ointment. The drug relaxes the muscle, allowing physical therapy staff to perform muscle-strengthening exercises.

Possible Side Effects

Side effects of Curarization Therapy are minimal and typically mild in nature. A potential side effect of the drugs used is nausea. Other possible side effects can include headache, dizziness, and the feeling of heaviness in the area where the drugs have been administered.

Conclusion

Curarization Therapy is an effective treatment for people with neuromuscular diseases, such as muscular dystrophy. It allows physical therapy staff to stimulate and strengthen muscles in a safe, controlled environment, and can speed up the rehabilitation process. The side effects are typically mild and the drugs used are noninvasive.