open access
The effects of physiotherapy with PNF concept on gait and balance of patients with Huntington's disease – pilot study
- Department of Rehabilitation in Neurology and Psychiatry, University School of Education, Kraków, Poland
- Department of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, John Paul's II Hospital, Kraków, Poland
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Silesia, Zabrze, Poland
- Department of Neurology, Jagiellonian University Medical College in Cracow, Kraków, Poland
open access
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative, progressive disorder of the central nervous system which causes significant gait and balance disturbances. This is a pilot study which aims to determine the effects of a physiotherapy programme with use of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) on gait and balance in HD patients.
Material and methods30 HD patients aged 21–60 with genetically confirmed diagnosis participated in the study. Participants followed a 3-week-long PNF-based physiotherapy programme. Gait and balance were evaluated twice in each participant: first at baseline and then after the course of physiotherapy. The following methods were used for gait disturbances: Tinetti Gait Assessment Tool, Up and Go Test, Timed Walking Tests for 10m and 20m (TWT10m, TWT20m). Balance was assessed with use of Berg Balance Scale, Pastor Test and Functional Reach Test.
ResultsThere was a significant improvement in all measures of balance and gait.
ConclusionPNF-based physiotherapy is effective and safe in HD patients.
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative, progressive disorder of the central nervous system which causes significant gait and balance disturbances. This is a pilot study which aims to determine the effects of a physiotherapy programme with use of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) on gait and balance in HD patients.
Material and methods30 HD patients aged 21–60 with genetically confirmed diagnosis participated in the study. Participants followed a 3-week-long PNF-based physiotherapy programme. Gait and balance were evaluated twice in each participant: first at baseline and then after the course of physiotherapy. The following methods were used for gait disturbances: Tinetti Gait Assessment Tool, Up and Go Test, Timed Walking Tests for 10m and 20m (TWT10m, TWT20m). Balance was assessed with use of Berg Balance Scale, Pastor Test and Functional Reach Test.
ResultsThere was a significant improvement in all measures of balance and gait.
ConclusionPNF-based physiotherapy is effective and safe in HD patients.
Keywords
Huntington' s disease, Gait, Physiotherapy
Title
The effects of physiotherapy with PNF concept on gait and balance of patients with Huntington's disease – pilot study
Journal
Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska
Issue
Pages
354-357
Page views
1700
Article views/downloads
1822
DOI
10.1016/j.pjnns.2015.09.002
Bibliographic record
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2015;49(6):354-357.
Keywords
Huntington's disease
Gait
Physiotherapy
Authors
Elżbieta Mirek
Magdalena Filip
Krzysztof Banaszkiewicz
Monika Rudzińska
Jadwiga Szymura
Szymon Pasiut
Joanna Stożek
Andrzej Szczudlik