Physical therapy and exercise interventions in Huntington's disease: a mixed methods systematic review protocol

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Movement Disorders

Background:

• Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder.
• Current management focuses on symptom control, with limited evidence on rehabilitation effectiveness.
• Patient, family, and caregiver perspectives on interventions are crucial for holistic care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of physical therapy and exercise interventions in Huntington's disease.
• To explore patient, family, and caregiver perceptions of these interventions.
• To synthesize evidence from systematic reviews to inform clinical practice and policy.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods systematic review of quantitative, qualitative, and narrative reviews.
• Aggregated synthesis of existing evidence on physiotherapy and exercise in HD.
• Focus on deriving practical conclusions and recommendations.

Main Results:

• Evidence synthesis is pending completion of the review.
• Analysis will focus on reported outcomes of physical therapy and exercise.
• Qualitative data will capture subjective experiences and perceptions.

Conclusions:

• Findings will guide evidence-based recommendations for physical therapy and exercise in HD management.
• The review aims to improve clinical practice and policy for HD patients.
• Understanding patient and caregiver perspectives is key to optimizing interventions.