Huntington’s Disease: Guideline-Based Decisions
Presented by Anne Kloos
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Huntington’s disease (HD) is a rare genetic disorder that causes progressive motor, cognitive, and behavioral impairments leading to increasing activity limitations and participation restrictions over time. Due to the rarity and complexity of the disease, physical therapists often feel unprepared to determine a plan of care for a client with HD. This course addresses this problem by presenting a framework for the evaluation and treatment of clients with HD based on current clinical practice guidelines. This framework includes a physical therapy evaluation decision tree for selection of outcome measures and a plan-of-care decision tree for the selection of treatment interventions. Potential barriers and facilitators of participation in physical therapy and physical activity will be discussed along with strategies to overcome the barriers and facilitate active lifestyles throughout the disease in the HD population. The course is targeted to therapists in inpatient, outpatient, skilled nursing, and home health settings.
Meet your instructor
Anne Kloos
Anne Kloos received her physical therapy degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and her master’s and doctoral degrees in biology/neuroscience from Cleveland State University. Dr. Kloos is currently a professor-clinical in the physical therapy division at The Ohio State University, where she teaches adult…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Guideline-Based Physical Therapy Evaluation
Appropriate care of the client with Huntington’s disease is based on a thorough and accurate physical therapy evaluation. This chapter prepares the therapist to apply a guideline-based physical therapy evaluation decision tree to select and use evidence-based outcome measures across all stages of the disease. Potential barriers and facilitators to participation in physical therapy will be discussed.
2. Guideline-Based Physical Therapy Treatment
Therapists should use evidence-based interventions for the management of clients with Huntington’s disease. This chapter prepares the therapist to apply a guideline-based physical therapy plan-of-care decision tree for selection of interventions. Strategies to overcome barriers and facilitate exercise and physical activity in people with HD are discussed.
3. Guideline-Based Physical Therapy Management: Case Study
Therapists need to be able to develop individualized physical therapy goals and a guideline-based plan of care for a client with HD. In this chapter, a plan of care for a case study client with HD will be developed through application of the decision trees presented in chapters 1 and 2 and based on the client’s individual condition across each stage of the disease.
