title: The effects of physiotherapy with PNF concept on gait and balance of patients with Huntington's disease - pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  30 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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant improvement in all measures of balance and gait.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PNF-based physiotherapy is effective and safe in HD patients.
authors.affiliation: 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. Electronic address: mirek.ela@wp.pl.
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mirek
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filip
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, John Paul's II Hospital, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Banaszkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rudzińska
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation in Neurology and Psychiatry, University School of Education, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Jadwiga
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szymura
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation in Neurology and Psychiatry, University School of Education, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Szymon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pasiut
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation in Neurology and Psychiatry, University School of Education, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stożek
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Jagiellonian University Medical College in Cracow, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szczudlik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005080:Exercise Test; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Gait; Huntington's disease; Physiotherapy