Physiotherapist Johanna Blom
The popular and richly-illustrated book ‘Muscle Imbalance’ is now published in an updated, English version. Written by physiotherapist Johanna Blom, it is primarily intended for physiotherapists but can also be used by other healthcare professionals who meet patients with tonus problems in the form of dystonia and spasticity. It constitutes an important new tool that should result in better assessment and treatment for a large group of patients.
Johanna Blom works as a physiotherapist at Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. A member of the tonus team, she works in close collaboration with neurology specialists and thus has extensive experience of patients with dystonia or spasticity. When she decided to write about her work, combining her own experience and knowledge with other scientific findings, she realised that the book had to present the two diagnostic areas together.
‘‘The reason was because both groups need active physiotherapy, even though their problems do vary somewhat. But by presenting both in the same book, I hope to give a broader picture of the tonus problem itself and at the same time a deeper understanding of each area”, she says.
Dystonia is the third most diagnosed group of movement disorders, with the focal form affecting around 30 people per 100,000 inhabitants in Europe. Spasticity, in turn, results from injuries or diseases of the brain and/or spinal cord, such as stroke, MS, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain or spinal cord injury. Johanna says there is a desire for a more active and more individualised approach. Her book is based on current science and includes many illustrated examples of physiotherapy exercises. She gets much positive feedback, and some specialists even say that they often have her book in their hand when working directly with patients.
‘‘This is valuable feedback since the book is primarily aimed at physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals, but many patients also comment that they have seen and appreciate it, which is rewarding because it is the patients I care about in the end”, she adds.
Large variations exist within and between countries in Europe regarding the availability of early diagnosis, assessment and adequate treatment for the individual patient with dystonia or spasticity, and this is problematic, says Johanna who adds:
“I hope to spread new knowledge and help healthcare in Sweden and Europe gain a deeper understanding and a better basis for assessment, analysis and individualised treatment.”
Johanna arranges workshops and lectures frequently in Sweden as well as in other European countries, which brings her into contact with many healthcare teams and patient organisations around Europe. She tells us that the Swedish book has been sold mainly to Sweden and Norway, but also to Denmark and Finland. With the updated English translation, she hopes for further international distribution.
“The writing has been so rewarding from the first moment to the last. This has been a very educational project for me as well”, she says and proudly holds up her work.
Johanna’s updated book has been sponsored by Merz, who rightly take great pride in helping her spread this important knowledge to a broader international audience.
‘‘This work will be a great tool for many physiotherapists as well as patients affected by dystonia or spasticity. It is important to spread the knowledge about these challenges and the treatment. We have already seen a great interest in Johanna’s book both in Germany and Austria”, says Eva Ahlbom Fredriksson, Head of Commercial Nordics, Merz Therapeutics Nordics AB.
Johanna also draws attention to a digital platform, with exercises and the possibility to create home training programs, that she has developed together with the patient organisation Dystonia Europe with funding from the Boston Scientific Foundation Europe. Read more at: https://physioexercise.org/en
To order the book, please follow this link:
https://dystonia-europe.org/buy-muscle-imbalance-book/
Merz Therapeutics Nordics AB was founded in 2023, with the ambition to be a committed and leading player in neurology-focused treatment in the Nordic region. Through innovative medicines, customized services and close collaboration with healthcare providers, we contribute to a development that benefits both patients and society.
https://merznordic.com
From left: Monika Benson Dystonia Europe and Physiotherapist Johanna Blom
