There is much that you can do to maintain the best possible muscle function and overall fitness and health. Exercise can help you regain strength and function to some extent, if you understand which of your muscles are still capable of some recovery. Exercise can also help alleviate pain. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, however. It takes research, persistence, and creativity to find a regimen that works for you and your body. Our downloadable brochure Physical Therapy and Exercise for FSHD was written by leading experts to help you and your physical therapist work as a team.
Scroll down to browse our videos and articles on Physical Therapy and Exercise.
Physical therapy and exercise videos
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Dynamic sitting - exercising in a seated position
We’ve all heard how important a well-tailored exercise program is for people with FSH muscular dystrophy. This is easier said than done, especially if you have difficulty standing up or worry about falling during exercise. In today’s webinar, Nikia Stinson, DPT, discusses upper body weakness and pain that are frequently experienced by people with FSHD and describes exercises that can be done from a seated position to help address these issues. Dr. Stinson is a physical therapist and lead clinical evaluator for ongoing clinical research at the Kennedy Krieger Institute's Center for Genetic Muscle Disorders. -
Serratus Anterior Exercises with Dr. Tina Duong
Tina Duong, MPT, of Stanford Medicine's Day Lab is a research physical therapist at Stanford with over 10 years of clinical experience in neuromuscular and pediatric research. She produced this video for the FSHD Society's 2020 FSHD Connect Classroom conference. For more information, visit www.fshdsociety.org. -
CAT COW EXERCISES
Tina Duong, MPT, of Stanford Medicine's Day Lab is a research physical therapist at Stanford with over 10 years of clinical experience in neuromuscular and pediatric research. She produced this video for the FSHD Society's 2020 FSHD Connect Classroom conference. For more information, visit www.fshdsociety.org.
Physical therapy and exercise blog posts
Dave Younger’s exercise arsenal
by David Younger, Austin, Texas Over the past ten to fifteen years, I have developed an arsenal of products that I use to stay as healthy and active as possible. When COVID started, I bought two inexpensive lung exercisers on Amazon. I use the FIGERM breathing trainer twice a day, in the morning and in… Read More »
Staying Active While at Home
In this recorded webinar, Julie Hershberg, PT, DPT, NCS, presents evidence-based benefits or physical therapy and exercise for patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Dr. Hershberg is a neurologic physical therapist, founder and owner of re+active physical therapy & wellness and adjunct instructor of clinical physical therapy at the University of Southern California. Current… Read More »
FSHD Warrior Pose [VIDEO]
by Faye Flatt, Ontario, Canada Yoga has always looked effortless to me and I enjoy watching the gentle movements from one pose and smooth transition to another. In my head it looked like something I could do. So a couple years ago I decided to try it. The instructor was a friend and encouraged me…. Read More »
Self-healing from muscular dystrophy
BY BEATRIZ NASCIMENTO, SAO PAOLO, BRAZIL I had some mild muscle weakness since childhood, but in my 20s everything was getting harder. I was constantly fatigued and stressed. By my early 30s, fast decline in muscle functions due to FSH muscular dystrophy was making me believe that the rest of my life would be a painful downhill trip toward… Read More »
Medicare coverage for ongoing maintenance physical therapy
Article adapted with permission from Melissa Fox, PT, DPT, University of Virginia Health System. There are times when a short course of physical therapy (PT) can meet your current needs, and you can then continue exercises on your own. Other times, however, ongoing PT may be necessary to maintain your current status (strength, flexibility, mobility,… Read More »
Muscle activation strategies for FSH muscular dystrophy
Our Dallas support group meeting on January 19th featured outstanding presentations and hands-on demonstrations of muscle activation and the Rolf method, which one of our new Dallas-area members has found very beneficial in addressing his FSHD issues. Note that these methods have not been studied scientifically for efficacy in FSHD; we are simply sharing patients’… Read More »