FND Education Project

REFERENCE · RECOVERY TECHNIQUES

Functional Paralysis: Detailed Recovery and Care Pages

These pages expand the **seven original entries** in the [paralysis recovery overview](../15-functional-paralysis.md). They cover movement practice, equipment, coordinated care, familiar episodes and participation while symptoms continue. Several entries are care-planning approaches rather than exercises. Choose the page that fits your current need; you do not have to attempt all seven.

In this collection

  1. Finding a Movement You Can Start With — When a limb will not move on request, a therapist looks for a safe movement that is available within another action. [Clinical motor-rehabilitation consensus; isolated technique efficacy uncertain]
  2. Practising a Useful Task With Attention on Its Purpose — When some movement is available, practise an everyday action with attention on its result rather than repeatedly checking the limb. [Clinical and occupational-therapy consensus; severe-paralysis-specific component evidence limited]
  3. Using Equipment and Protecting Your Body — When severe movement loss makes transfers, positioning or daily access difficult, choose equipment and a body-care plan that meet current needs. [Clinical safety and access guidance; equipment is not a proven movement-restoration treatment]
  4. Choosing a Manageable Amount of Practice — When practice or daily care leaves too little capacity for the rest of the day, adjust the amount and review delayed effects before increasing it. [Individualized rehabilitation consensus; no universal progression schedule]
  5. Getting the Team Working From One Plan — When movement, personal care, symptoms and practical support involve several services, agree who does what and how the plans fit together. [Multidisciplinary clinical consensus; broader programme evidence with important limits]
  6. Making a Plan for Familiar Paralysis Episodes — When assessed limb immobility comes in episodes, agree safe positioning, communication, optional movement cues and a route back to the interrupted activity. [Individualized clinical planning; an episode-stopping effect is unproven]
  7. Keeping Life Open While Movement Is Limited — When paralysis continues, protect everyday choices, relationships, transport and practical support while keeping future treatment options open. [Rehabilitation and occupational-therapy consensus; participation is a valid outcome]

Before practice

Movement practice starts with an assessed task and the help it requires. Safe positioning, skin care, transfers, toileting and access remain necessary whether or not movement changes. Do not attempt unsupported standing or remove required aids to test recovery. A new or substantially different paralysis pattern needs appropriate assessment.

Original-list record

The first list at 89c276f, the pre-expansion baseline at 74138f3, and the immediate pre-expansion main version at b7f7a6c contain the same seven entries. Each maps to one page here. Nothing was split, merged or omitted; this README is an additional navigation document. The earlier master index separately listed body protection, which is retained within equipment/body care, not counted as an eighth original intervention. See the history audit.

Evidence correction: the old overview said no controlled trial specifically studied functional paralysis. A 2022 rTMS trial exists; active stimulation did not outperform sham. The coordinated-care page explains that evidence. This research note does not add a recommended treatment to the original list. Most practical guidance still comes from broader motor rehabilitation consensus rather than trials of each component in severe paralysis.