Cerebellar Ataxia

Question 1

Cerebellar ataxia

Answer 1

Arises due to damage or dysfunction affecting the cerebellum and or it’s input / output pathways

Question 2

Clinical features

Answer 2

Gait ataxia
Sensory ataxia
Truncal ataxia 
Limb ataxia 
Dyssynergia (disturbance in muscular coordination) 
Dysmetria (over/undershooting) 
Tremor 
Asthenia (abnormal weakness) 
Nystagmus (dancing eyes)

Question 3

Outcome measures

Answer 3

Scale for assessment and rating for ataxia (SARA) - gait, stance, sitting, speech disturbance, finger chase, nose to finger, fast alternating hand movement and heel to shin slides.

International classification of ataxia scale (ICARS)

Brief ataxia rating scale - modified of the ICARS

Friedreich ataxia rating scale

Involuntary for non-ataxia signs (INAS provides structured information on non-ataxia signs In patients)

Walk test
9- hole peg test
Times speech test

EQ-5D-5L mobility, self care, usual activities, pain and anxiety.
PHQ-9 patient health questionnaire
BARS brief ataxia rating scale

Question 4

Guidelines

Answer 4

Ataxia Guidelines 2016 - frenkels exercise for ataxia conditions.
Exercises are a series of motions, increasing difficulty to facilitate the restoration of coordination.
Used to bring back rhymical and smooth coordinated movement.
Main focus - PRECISION/REPETITION.

ICF - body function structure and activity/participation.