Lecture 3

Question 1

What is the brain stem and what is its function?

Answer 1

Where signals are converted into instructions and sent to the spinal cord.
Where signals pass through to initiate transition for gait changes in the spinal cord.

Question 2

What is the function of the cerebellum?

Answer 2

Maintenance of muscle tone.
Motor control and movement.
Coordinating timing and sequence of muscle actions and movements.

Question 3

What is the basal ganglia and what is its function?

Answer 3

Collection of nuclei that sit under each cerebral hemisphere.
Initiate movement and speed of movement.
Allow selection of complex patterns of voluntary movement.

Question 4

What is a gait disorder?

Answer 4

Result of a nervous system error.

Question 5

What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?

Answer 5

Hyperkinesia
Short limited cautious shuffling steps
Pedestal turning
Tremors in upper extremities
Other reflexes concerning posture don't work

Question 6

What are symptoms of Huntington’s disease?

Answer 6

Hyperkinesia
Wobbles
Arms are stiff and don’t swing to maintain balance
Uneven walking rhythm (incadence)
Spontaneous bursts - random movements inserted into gait cycle

Question 7

What are symptoms of cerebellar disorders?

Answer 7

Ataxia
Can't follow a pattern 
Inability to coordinate motor and sensory systems when walking
Wide base
Awkward/unstable
Tendency to fall during tandem walk test

Question 8

What are the symptoms of upper motor neuron signs?

Answer 8

Circumducting gait
Weakness of one leg
Swings one leg out laterally, opening pelvis
Hip, knee and ankle are stiff and can’t flex
Associated with stroke

Hemiparetic gait
Hip tilts and rotates
Leg swings out laterally
Spasticity: all extensor muscles contract at once
Spastic weakness eg. Elbow, wrist and fingers flex

Question 9

What is the function of the cerebrum?

Answer 9

Voluntary initiation of gait.

Integration of complex goal directed behaviour with ongoing adjustment to environment.