Physical Therapy and Exercise Interventions in Huntington's Disease: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Limited assessment of evidence quality for physical therapy and exercise in Huntington's disease (HD).
• Need for a comprehensive review of existing research on interventions for HD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the effectiveness of physical therapy and exercise interventions for individuals with Huntington's disease.
• To explore patient, family, and caregiver perceptions of these interventions.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods systematic review using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) approach.
• Literature search from January 2003 to May 2016, including quantitative and qualitative studies.
• Inclusion of studies on exercise and physical therapy interventions for Huntington's disease.

Main Results:

• Twenty studies met inclusion criteria; 18 quantitative and 2 qualitative.
• Quantitative studies yielded evidence levels ranging from JBI Level 1 to Level 4.
• Preliminary evidence suggests benefits in motor function, gait speed, and balance.

Conclusions:

• Preliminary support exists for exercise and physical activity benefits in Huntington's disease.
• Patient-reported outcomes indicate physical and social benefits.
• Need for high-quality studies with adaptive designs due to disease rarity and intervention variability.