Physical therapy management of familial dysautonomia

This paper describes physical therapy programs to assist physical therapists in the rehabilitation of patients with familial dysautonomia. There have been no reports in the literature about a physical therapy program for patients with this disease. A retrospective analysis of the clinical manifestations in 80 patients in a dysautonomia clinic was performed. Scoliosis and kyphosis were found in 92 percent of the patients, 93 percent had ataxia, 74 percent had feeding difficulties, 69 percent had frequent pneumonias, and 63 percent exhibited delayed developmental milestones. Cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, and neurological symptoms and treatments are discussed.