Most people with muscular dystrophy (MD) cannot access regular therapy for their condition. Yet effective therapies exist, like physiotherapy and osteopathy, which could keep them stronger for longer and significantly improve their lives. Building on the success of our UK centre, we will create a toolkit that shares our model freely across the MD community, to spark action and empower others to launch their own clinics. The first tool in the toolkit will be a film demonstrating our programme.
Therapies for MD are severely lacking in both the US and UK, where over 60% say they cannot access treatment. Funding is focussed on medical research, to improve the lives of people in the future. But what about the lives of people losing muscle function today? Early intervention can slow muscle loss, reduce pain, and keep people out of hospital. The toolkit will inspire and enable others to start their own clinics, using a tried and tested model, so thousands more get the therapies they need.
The first tool will be a short film demonstrating our therapy model. This film will be shared freely across the MD community, especially in the US and UK, to inspire collective action and empower people to launch their own clinics. The film will cover: specialised assessment for new service users; physiotherapy, osteopathy, aquatic therapy and complementary therapies ; Interviews with service users and therapists; and Measuring outcomes in a progressive condition like muscular dystrophy.
If 10 clinics were launched with the toolkit, within 3 years 2,500 people with MD could be staying stronger for longer. We CAN transform thousands of people's lives for the better. MD is a rare disease and there's not yet a cure, but by working collaboratively we can get treatment to everyone who needs it much faster than by working alone. Collectively, we will improve access to the point when, one day, everyone with MD who needs therapy can access it.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
