According to a story from Patient Worthy partner CureDuchenne, the organization has recently launched its CureDuchenne Occupational Therapist Certification Program. This program is intended to give occupational therapists advanced skills and training that will help them give people living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy the highly optimized and specialized care they need in order to adapt to daily life. The certification will build off of the Physical Therapist Certification Program that CureDuchenne introduced earlier. 

About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a neuromuscular disease, and it is one of the more severe types of muscular dystrophy. It is characterized by progressive muscle weakness that usually begins around age four and worsens quickly. As an X-linked genetic disease, boys are mostly affected, with girls only occasionally displaying mild symptoms. The disease is caused by mutations of the dystrophin gene. Symptoms of Duchenne muscular dystrophy include falling, abnormal walking posture, eventual loss of walking ability, muscle fiber deformities, intellectual disability (not in all cases), enlargement of the tongue and calf muscles, skeletal deformities, muscle atrophy, heart abnormalities, and difficulty with breathing. Treatment includes a variety of medications and therapies that can help alleviate symptoms and slow disease progression. Lifespan is usually into the thirties with good care. Better treatments for this disease are urgently needed. To learn more about Duchenne muscular dystrophy, click here.

Improving Outcomes for Patients

Cases of this disease are not all the same; symptoms can vary from patient to patient, as can the rate of disease progression. Therefore, a one size fits all approach to managing muscular dystrophy is not going to produce ideal outcomes for patients. The CureDuchenne Occupational Therapist Certification Program aims to take this into account. Therapists with this certification will learn the most effective routines, equipment, and exercises for people living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. They will also learn to avoid approaches that could potentially be harmful.

The program includes ongoing assessments and training to keep therapists up to date on the latest treatment practices. Ultimately, the implementation of this program aims to further improve treatment for people living with the disease. Interested in learning more or getting certified? Click here.