Cerebellar Flashcards
Dysmetria definition
impaired ability to properly scale movement distance. Movements are described as
either hypermetric or hypometric
Dyssynergia definiton
impairment of multijoint
movements, wherein movements of specific segments are not properly sequenced or of the proper range or direction, resulting in uncoordinated multijoint movement
Lack of Check definition
inability to rapidly and sufficiently
halt movement of a body part after a strong isometric force
Dysdiadochokinesia Definition
coordination between agonist-antagonist muscle pairs elicited during voluntary rapid alternating movements
Decomposition definition
breaking down of a
movement sequence or a multijoint movement into a series of separate movements, each simpler than the combined movement
Cerebellar Tremor definition
poorly defined and not well understood
Usually an action tremor (not present with rest)
Action tremor can be postural or kinetic
Kinetic tremor has low frequency and happens during specific movements like forearm pronation supination or foot tapping
Intention tremor is a specific
form of kinetic tremor that occurs during the terminal portions of visually guided movements toward a target
Pts with cerebellar dysfunction typically have _____tonia
hypotonia
The hypotonia usually manifests
as a decrease in the extensor tone necessary for holding the body upright against gravity.
Imbalance definition
clients with cerebellar damage usually show increased postural sway
excessive or diminished postural responses to
perturbations
poor control of equilibrium during voluntary
movements
abnormal oscillations of the trunk,
Gait Ataxia
The greatest complaint of people with cerebellar problems
This abnormal pattern of
walking is often described as a “drunken” gait because clients often stagger and lose balance as if intoxicated
that walking is slowed, with steps that are short, irregular in timing, and unequal in length.
Other things that cerbellar patients have:
Oculomotor Deficits- eye movements dramatically impaired
Speech Impairments
Impaired Motor Learning
slow reversals and will help with what stage of the PNF Model for cerebellar patients
Controlled mobility
How to work on self-stabilization for cerebellar patients
Training upright stance: stand with back against wall, patient pulls hips forward, keeping scapulae against wall.
Walking with hands on hips or holding object in front/back of him/her.
Lift chair or other object overhead. Hold/carry while standing/walking.
a. Object can be in contact with top of head when head/neck ataxic.
Balance on stationary bike
Walking, holding something behind back
What are the supine->sit exercise progressions called for dysmetria
Frenkel exercises
What tests do PTs use to measure cerebellar dysfunction in UE
What about the lower extremity
UE: Finger to nose
Alternating pronation/supination
Hand or finger tapping test
LE: Heel to shin
Toe/Foot tapping
How must PTs vary tests for cerebellar patients in order to examine deficits
Eyes open and eyes closed
Varying speeds slow and as fast as possible
repeat each test multiple times
compare both sides
