Galmeon Therapy is based on an innovative approach aimed at restoring a patient’s impaired motor functions. Used primarily to treat swallowing disorders or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, it combines mental imagery, proprioception, and listening to low-frequency sounds to overcome motor inhibitions. To better understand this therapy, we spoke with two experts: Franck Remillieux, a physical therapist, osteopath, and Galmeon trainer, and Dr. Philippe Gerentes, a dentist specializing in TMD and swallowing disorders.
Understanding Galmeon Therapy: A Neurofunctional Approach
Franck Remillieux: Galmeon Therapy helps restore a motor pattern that has been altered or disrupted as a result of trauma, surgery, or prolonged use of pain medication. For example, a limp caused by severe osteoarthritis of the hip or knee can lead to a loss of the natural motor pattern.
Therapeutic Indications: A Wide Range of Applications
Franck Remillieux: This therapy is recommended after surgery, but it is also very beneficial preoperatively to restore proper motor patterns. It is useful following a sprain or trauma, as the pain-avoidance gait often alters muscle activation and the sequence in which muscles are activated. It is also relevant in cases of stroke or multiple sclerosis to optimize impaired muscle groups.
Philippe Gerentes: We can also highlight the importance of early intervention in preventing facial growth abnormalities, which affect tooth alignment, breathing, sleep quality, sleep apnea, bruxism, TMD, and academic performance. We can therefore see a wide range of consequences resulting from tongue dysfunction, with significant repercussions on individuals’ quality of life and the financial burden on families, social security, and supplemental health insurance plans.
How a Session Unfolds: Key Steps in Neuromotor Reprogramming
Franck Remillieux: A typical session begins with a medical history review and the identification of motor activation deficits. Next, the patient becomes aware of the movement that needs to be corrected or the motor activation deficit in a muscle or part of that muscle. We then create a motor image—both visual and kinesthetic—that needs to be modified. Finally, the patient listens to low-frequency sounds using Galmeon Wave.
Number of sessions required: fast and long-lasting results
Franck Remillieux: You’ll notice results right from the first session. Depending on the case, it may be necessary to schedule additional sessions, particularly for neurological conditions such as strokes or multiple sclerosis. Follow-up care in collaboration with a dentist, speech-language pathologist, or maxillofacial physical therapist is important for TMJ disorders and swallowing issues.
Philippe Gerentes: In swallowing rehabilitation, especially when the dysfunction has been present for a very long time, it is sometimes necessary to conduct shorter sessions spaced one month and two months apart.
Results Observed: Proven Effectiveness
Franck Remillieux: Based on seven years of experience, with an average of about 30 cases per month, I have observed immediate positive results in 90% of cases.
Benefits of Galmeon Therapy: A Complement to Traditional Rehabilitation
Franck Remillieux: Galmeon Therapy should be viewed as a booster for rehabilitation. As a trained physical therapist, I am aware of how important it is to collaborate with the rehabilitation sector for the benefit of patients. I believe it’s essential not only to reprogram the correct movement but, above all, to reactivate the right muscles to prevent the reinforcement of compensatory patterns during rehabilitation.
Side Effects and Contraindications: A Well-Tolerated Therapy
Franck Remillieux: To date, aside from fatigue after a session or soreness in the muscles that have been reprogrammed, I haven’t received any other feedback. Contraindications include mechanical injuries, total deafness (since we use sound), cognitive disorders, and peripheral nerve damage in cases of complete nerve transection.
Galmeon Therapy has established itself as an innovative and effective approach to the treatment of neuromotor disorders. Thanks to the expertise of practitioners such as Franck Remillieux and Dr. Philippe Gerentes, it offers promising prospects for improving the quality of life for patients with motor dysfunction.
