Ataxia

Question 1

What does Ataxia often cause?

Answer 1

• Clumsiness and difficulty with balance
• Walking
• Speech
• Eye movements

Question 2

What does Ataxia caused by?

Answer 2

Caused by cerebellar dysfunction or impaired vestibular or proprioceptive afferent input to cerebellum.

(Stems from damage to the cerebellum or its connections)

Question 3

What are the causes of sensory ataxia?

Answer 3

Loss of proprioception
(e.g., peripheral neuropathy, posterior column lesion)

Question 4

What are the causes of cerebellar ataxia?

Answer 4

Cerebellar dysfunction
(e.g.: stroke, degeneration, alcohol-induced damage)

Question 5

What are the causes of vestibular ataxia?

Answer 5

Vestibular system dysfunction
(e.g.: vestibular neuritis)

Question 6

How is gait affected with sensory ataxia?

Answer 6

• High-stepping
• Unsteady
• Worse in dark

Question 7

How is gait affected with cerebellar ataxia?

Answer 7

• Wide-based
• Unsteady
• Irregular steps

Question 8

How is gait affected with vestibular ataxia?

Answer 8

• Unsteady
• Veering to one side

Question 9

What is the result of the Romberg test with sensory ataxia?

Answer 9

Positive
- Worsens when eyes are closed

Question 10

What is the result of the Romberg test with cerebellar ataxia?

Answer 10

Negative
- Ataxia present with eyes open + closed

Question 11

What is the result of the Romberg test with vestibular ataxia?

Answer 11

Negative

Question 12

How is coordination affected with sensory ataxia?

Answer 12

Clumsy movements, but improves with visual feedback

Question 13

How is coordination affected with cerebellar ataxia?

Answer 13

• Dysmetria
• Dysdiadochokinesia
• Intention tremor

Question 14

How is coordination affected with vestibular ataxia?

Answer 14

Unaffected/Normal limb coordination

Question 15

Is there nystagmus with sensory ataxia?

Answer 15

Absent

Question 16

Is there nystagmus with cerebellar ataxia?

Answer 16

Present (multidirectional)

Question 17

Is there nystagmus with vestibular ataxia?

Answer 17

Present (horizontal)

Question 18

Is there vertigo with sensory ataxia?

Answer 18

Absent

Question 19

Is there vertigo with cerebellar ataxia?

Answer 19

Absent

Question 20

Is there vertigo with vestibular ataxia?

Answer 20

Present (often severe with nausea)

Question 21

What are some other features of sensory ataxia?

Answer 21

• Loss of vibration sense
• Loss of proprioception

Question 22

What are some other features of cerebellar ataxia?

Answer 22

• Slurred speech
• Scanning dysarthria
• Rebound phenomenon

Question 23

What are some other features of vestibular ataxia?

Answer 23

• Associated with nausea
• Vomiting
• Tinnitus
• Hearing loss (if peripheral)

Question 24

What are the S&S of cerebellar ataxia related to?

Answer 24

The location of the lesions in the cerebellum

Question 25

What causes ipsilateral S&S of cerebellar ataxia?

Answer 25

Lateralised lesions

Question 26

What S&S do lateralised lesions causing cerebellar ataxia cause?

Answer 26

Ipsilateral

Question 27

What S&S do diffuse lesions give rise to in cerebellar ataxia?

Answer 27

More generalised symmetric symptoms

Question 28

What is effective for physios to focus on when training patients with ataxia to alleviate their symptoms?

Answer 28

- Balance - Aerobic - Muscle strength - Coordination - Gait - Activities of Daily Living (ADL)

Question 29

What has been shown to be beneficial to improve balance among individuals with acquired cerebellar ataxia?

Answer 29

Conventional therapeutic exercises plus additional therapies: - Lumbar stabilisation - Task-orientated training - Therapist-assisted gait training - Robotic-assisted gait training

Question 30

What is Ataxia?

Answer 30

A neurological sign characterized by a lack of coordination in voluntary muscle movements.