Physical Therapy for Huntington's Disease

Huntington's Disease is a rare, inherited disease that causes the progressive breakdown (degeneration) of nerve cells in the brain. Huntington's disease has a wide impact on a person's functional abilities and usually results in movement, thinking (cognitive) and psychiatric disorders.

Symptoms of Huntington's disease

The early symptoms of Huntington's disease are often general:

• Irritability
• Depression
• Mood swings
• Trouble driving
• Trouble learning new things
• Forgetting facts
• Trouble making decisions

As the disease progresses, the following symptoms become more common:

• Trouble feeding oneself
• Difficulty swallowing
• Strange and uncontrolled movements that are either slow or wild and jerking (chorea)
• Loss of memory and judgment
• Changes in speech
• Personality changes
• Disorientation and confusion
• Hallucinations, paranoia, and psychosis

In children, the symptoms often include Parkinson’s  disease‒like features such as:

• Slow movements
• Rigidity
• Tremors

Causes of Huntington's Disease

Huntington's disease is caused by a faulty gene. Cells in parts of the brain are very sensitive to the effects of the faulty gene. This makes them function poorly and eventually die.

What Physical Therapy can do. Although the exercises recommended for Huntington's patients train different areas of the body, all aim to prevent falls, promote correct walking and body control, build coordination, and encourage a positive and confident attitude toward the body.

At Reddy Care Physical and Occupational Therapy, we can get you set up with the right therapist for you. Call today to schedule a consultation!

Great Neck: 475 Northern Blvd., Ste.11, Great Neck, NY 11021  Tel. (516) 829-0030

Farmingdale: 309 North West Dr., Farmingdale, NY 11735   Tel. (516) 420-2900

Woodbury: 150 Woodbury Rd., Woodbury, NY 11797   Tel. (516) 367-1111

Deer Park: 2024 Deer Park Ave., Deer Park, NY 11729   Tel. (631) 243-0247

North Shore Towers: 272-78 Grand Central Pkwy., Floral Park, NY 11005   Tel. (516) 344-0030

Bayside - Aquatic Therapy: 208-32 Cross Island Pkwy., Bayside, NY11360  Tel. (718) 224-8480

Oceanside: 2421 S Long Beach Rd., Oceanside, NY 11572  Tel. (516) 992-2282

New York City: 250 West 93rd Street, New York, NY 10025 Tel. (212) 580-0125

 In-Home Physical & Occupational Therapy (Home Care): 516-829-0030 

*Home therapy servicing Long Island, Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn, the Bronx & Manhattan*

Sources: Source 1 Source 2

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Written by:

Dr. Vinod Somareddy, PT, DPT

President

Reddy Care Physical Therapy

Reddy Care Occupational Therapy

Reddy Care Aquatic Therapy

Author

Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy is an outstanding specialty service providing exceptional care and state-of-the-art treatments for the residents of Farmingdale and Great Neck, New York. The combination of innovative exercise programs, manual therapy, and technology together with the expertise of every member of the team enables Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy to provide services that ensure superior clinical outcomes and consistently high patient satisfaction.