What it is
A short, honest summary.
- —An inherited condition in which certain brain cells gradually break down.
- —It affects movement — including involuntary movements — alongside thinking and mood.
- —Progression is slow and individual; rehabilitation has a clear role at every stage.
What families notice
The signals worth taking seriously.
- 01Involuntary, dance-like movements (chorea)
- 02Unsteadiness, stumbling, or a change in walking pattern
- 03Difficulty with balance and frequent falls
- 04Trouble with coordination and fine-motor tasks
- 05Changes in speech, swallowing, mood, or memory
My approach
How the work is structured.
- —Balance and gait training to reduce falls and keep walking safe.
- —Strength and aerobic work, which has growing evidence for supporting function.
- —Seating, positioning, and home-safety adjustments as needs change.
- —Caregiver training and coordination with neurology, speech and psychology teams.
What recovery looks like
A plain-language picture.
“Huntington's is not reversed, but rehabilitation meaningfully shapes the journey — fewer falls, preserved mobility, and a daily life that stays as independent and dignified as possible.”
FAQ
Common questions, answered briefly.
- Can exercise really help in Huntington's?
- Yes. Evidence increasingly shows that regular, structured exercise supports walking, balance and quality of life through the course of the condition.
- When should physiotherapy start?
- Early — even when movement still feels normal. Building strong habits and a baseline of fitness pays off through every later stage.
For clinicians
Clinical detail, assessment and evidence.
Clinical summary
The picture in clinician register.
Huntington's disease is an autosomal-dominant neurodegenerative disorder with progressive chorea, motor incoordination, cognitive decline and psychiatric features. Rehabilitation has a growing evidence base across stages — gait and balance training reduce falls, and structured aerobic and strength work supports function and quality of life.
Terminology
Terms worth being precise about.
- Chorea
- Brief, irregular, involuntary movements that flow from one body part to another.
- Cognitive-motor interference
- Disproportionate decline in performance when a motor and a cognitive task are combined.
- Gait variability
- Stride-to-stride inconsistency; a marker of falls risk.
Assessment & measures
What the first sessions measure.
- —UHDRS motor component.
- —Berg Balance Scale and falls history.
- —Gait analysis — variability and dual-task performance; functional staging.
Red flags
Signs that need urgent escalation.
- Rapidly worsening falls with injury.
- Significant dysphagia — aspiration risk.
- A psychiatric crisis.
Referral & MDT
When and to whom to refer.
Neurology and Huntington's specialist services. Psychiatry; speech-and-language therapy for swallow and communication; genetic counselling for the family.
Evidence
References and guideline anchors.
- Exercise across the stages of Huntington's disease — PLACEHOLDER — verify against current guidelines before launch.