Cerebellar Ataxia Physiotherapy

Primary function of cerebellum is regulation of movements, postural control, and muscle tone lesions of this area have noted to produce typical patterns of motor dysfunction deficits, impaired balance and decreased muscle tone.

 

Cerebellar Ataxia Causes

  1.   Infection
    • Chickenpox
    • Epstein-Barr virus
    • Encephalitis or brain abscess (brain inflammation or infection)
  2. Congenital
    • Agenesis (failure of the cerebellum to fully develop)
    • Chiari malformation (herniation of the cerebellum through the opening in the base of the skull)
  3. Genetic
    • Multiple systems atrophy (rare, progressive neurological disorder)
    • Neuropathy, ataxia, retinitis pigmentosa (NARP, a metabolic disorder)
    • Spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (gene mutation)
  4. Metabolic
    • Vitamin B12 deficiency
    • Vitamin E deficiency
    • Thyroid diseases
  5. Toxic
    • Carbon monoxide
    • Heavy metals, such as mercury, lead and thallium
    • Alcohol and drugs

 

Cerebellar Ataxia Clinical Features

  • Hypotonia: decrease muscle tone
  • Dysmetria: not be able to judge the distance
  • Dysdiadochokinesia: unability to do rapid alternating movements
  • Tremor: involuntary movements resulting from alternate constraction of opposing muscles
  • Movement decomposition: movement performed in a sequence of components parts as compare  Rather than as single smooth activity
  • Disorder of gait: wide base of support of walking
  • Dysarthria: difficulty in speech articulation
  • Nystagmus: rhythmic oscillatory mo9vements of eye ball
  • Rebound phenomenon
  • Asthenia : generlised muscle weakness associated with cerebellar lesion.
 
Cerebellar Ataxia Physiotherapy Measures
  • Rehabilitate to ADL
  • To maintain and improve mobility
  • Improve balance ,coordination, gait
  • Improve strength and gait