PHYSIOTHERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION IN HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE – CASE STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24193/subbeag.70.sp.iss.1.14Keywords:
Huntington’s disease, physical therapy, involuntary movements, quality of lifeAbstract
Introduction: Huntington’s disease is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms, with onset between 30 and 50 years of age. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of physiotherapy on mobility, motor control, and balance, aiming to improve the quality of life of the patient in daily activities. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on a 47-year-old patient diagnosed with Huntington’s disease at age 39. Over 10 weeks, with 3 weekly physiotherapy sessions, four assessment stages were performed using the following scales: Mini-Mental State Examination for cognition, Berg and Tinetti Scale for balance, Fahn-Marsden Scale for dystonia, and Activities of Daily Living for daily activities. Discussions: The results indicated significant improvements in balance and motor control, as well as a slight improvement in dystonic movements and independence in daily activities, especially in personal hygiene. Conclusions: The study concludes that physiotherapy interventions can slow the progression of symptoms and contribute significantly to improving the quality of life of patients with Huntington’s disease, highlighting the importance of this therapy.
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