The importance of physical therapy in a patient with hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP TYPE 15) – case report

To evaluate the role of physical therapy in maintaining and improving motor function, mobility, and gait in a patient with hereditary spastic paraplegia, with emphasis on reducing spasticity.
Materials and Methods: We present the case of a 24-year-old patient diagnosed with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP) at the age of 14, initially presenting with gait difficulties and instability, later accompanied by mild cognitive impairment. Neurological examination revealed spastic paraparesis with pronounced muscle spasticity and bilateral pes cavus. Brain MRI demonstrated hypoplasia of the corpus callosum and global cortical atrophy, while spinal MRI showed no myelopathic changes of the spinal cord. Cerebrospinal fluid electrophoresis revealed a transudative pattern. Genetic testing confirmed HSP type 15. Physical therapy was initiated with the aim of reducing spasticity and improving motor function.
Results: Following physical therapy, a reduction in spasticity was observed, accompanied by improvement in the patient’s mobility.
Conclusion: Physical therapy remains the only effective therapeutic option for patients with HSP, particularly in reducing skeletal muscle spasticity and preventing musculoskeletal deformities.
Keywords: Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, physical therapy, spasticity