What is palliative physiotherapy?

Palliation is the alleviation of symptoms when it is not possible to treat the cause of the symptoms. ALS cannot be cured in the current state of medicine – many symptoms are progressive. Various palliative measures (medication, breathing aids, cough assistants, aids, assistance technology) are available to provide relief for those affected.

Physiotherapy can also help to alleviate symptoms: the application of heat (e.g. the “hot roll”), massages and passive physiotherapy can reduce pain in the musculoskeletal system and muscles as well as spasticity and incorrect positioning. Passive movement of the extremities, head and trunk as well as mobilization and repositioning of the articulated body can provide important relief in an advanced stage of the disease. In this phase of the disease, the focus is on symptom relief, which is why these physical treatment measures are referred to as “palliative physiotherapy”.