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Conditions
Huntingon's Disease
Huntington's Disease
The neurological physiotherapists at Liverpool Neuro Physio commonly treat conditions such as Huntington's disease. Huntington's disease progressively causes damage to areas of your brain controlling movement.
- What is Huntington's disease?
- Effects of Huntington's disease
- Physiotherapy for Huntington's disease
What is Huntington's disease?
Huntington's disease is a hereditary disorder of the central nervous system. Huntington's disease usually develops in adulthood. Huntington's disease causes progressive damage to certain areas in your brain that control movement, planning, motivation and personality. Huntington's disease can develop at any age but symptoms may differ from person to person.
Physiotherapy is beneficial for anyone who is suffering from Huntington's disease. Physiotherapy will work on improving muscular and movement problems you may be experiencing.
Effects of Huntington's disease
Huntington's disease has many symptoms that will vary between individuals. Some of the symptoms may include the following:
Mild tremor and movement problems early symptoms of Huntington's disease include tremor and jerky movements of the limbs of the body. As the disease progresses it can movements can become more extreme and frequent. Over time the movements may become slow and muscles may become more rigid.
Clumsiness/Lack of orientation Problems with orientation (unable to put things in a logical sequence) are an issue with someone suffering from Huntington's disease.
Irritability/Mood changes or depression Changes in mood are common with people suffering from Huntington's disease.
Short term memory problems Areas of the brain are progressively affected by the areas that deal with short term memory. This can cause a person to have difficulty with their short term memory.
Physiotherapy for Huntington's disease
Physiotherapy is essential in maintaining movement in Huntington's disease. The physiotherapists at Liverpool Neuro Physio have advanced knowledge about Huntington's disease and treatment for the symptoms you are experiencing. Your physiotherapist will work together with you to produce a treatment plan specific to dealing with your symptoms.
Physiotherapists at Liverpool Neuro Physio will work very closely to you in the aim of understanding what your ultimate goals are from the therapy and will then transfer them into realistic goals to incorporate into your treatment. Physiotherapy treatment is different with each individual and tailored specifically to treat symptoms that you may be experiencing. Some of your physiotherapy treatment may include:
- Working on muscle and joint stiffness
- Improving balance
- Improving mobility
- Reduce risk of falls
- Increase safety
- Help with difficulty breathing
- Provide positioning exercises
- Improve strength
- Improve joint flexibility
- Improve mood and motivation
- Increase independence
- Gait re education
- Provision of walking aids
- Improved transfers
- Advice and guidance
- Hydrotherapy
- Massage techniques
- Electrotherapy
Your physiotherapist at Liverpool Neuro Physio will listen to you and your main goals and your treatment will be specific to this. Your physiotherapist will aim to improve and maintain your joint flexibility and muscle strength so you can continue with mobility independently. Your physiotherapist will also aim to reduce the severity of your symptoms and work towards achieving what you want.
Your treatment may be specific to your everyday life and work on things you do daily. These things may include getting around your home transferring or working on sitting and standing balance, to allow you to apply it to everyday life such as standing when brushing your teeth or sitting comfortably in your chair. Treatment will depend on how severe your symptoms are and how mobile you are.
It is important to continue with physiotherapy when suffering from Huntington's disease as it helps to maintain you living independently, encourage your mood, motivates you, improves or maintains your normal movement as much as possible. The physiotherapists may use exercise therapy to promote muscle and joint flexibility and prevent any contractures from forming.
Your physiotherapist may use more techniques such as electrotherapy to try and regain stimulation in muscles. These techniques are specifically provided by physiotherapists. Hydrotherapy treatment can also be used.
At Liverpool Neuro Physio the physiotherapists understand the importance of safety at home and will incorporate exercise therapy to improve your safety. Making you more mobile and providing you with the necessary aids to help you will ensure you are safe at home and less at risk of falls.
To enable you to get the maximum benefits from your treatment your physiotherapist may teach your carer or family members any relevant physiotherapy exercise programmes for you to continue between sessions. This will help you to gain independence and maximise the benefits of physiotherapy
To arrange an appointment or to speak to one of our specialists, call us on 0151 558 0188 or email office@liverpoolneurophysio.co.uk.