Complementary Therapies

Complementary care can be a very important component of a personalised treatment plan. However, it is very important to note that Dystonia Ireland encourage  individuals with dystonia to consult with their  GP, neurologist or specialist treating them about all non-traditional  therapies they are curious about including supplements, devices, and techniques.

Speak with your doctors, and other people with dystonia to help discover complementary therapy options that may be an option for you. Explore the  following possibilities;

• Relaxation techniques
• Body-mind techniques such as yoga, mediation, the Feldenkrais Method
• Gentle and controlled  physical exercise including Pilates and soft martial arts such as Qi Gong
• A personalised exercise programme created in partnership with a qualified physiotherapist
• Biofeedback
• Acupuncture for pain relief

Traditional western practices such as medications and surgery have long been effective at diagnosing problems and assigning treatments, but may not fully address how patients live on a daily basis. These medical fields are slowly incorporating a wider range of knowledge to include treatments outside of the traditional scope to better assist patients and to treat the “whole person” body, mind and spirit. Complementary therapy may play an active role in your treatment of dystonia, and it is intended to be used in conjunction with traditional therapies. To avoid any interactions and potential problems, it is important to have open communication among all physicians and practitioners who are working with you.
It is very important that any practitioners of complementary therapies whom you consult are familiar with dystonia or willing to learn about it prior to treating you. And check that practitioners are trained registered (where relevant) and fully insured.