Can rehabilitation help ataxia?

Abstract

Gait ataxia is one of the most common and debilitating motor disorders associated with cerebellar damage.1 Although some recovery occurs following a single, focal lesion (e.g., stroke, benign tumor),2 steady declines in gait and balance function are typical among individuals with cerebellar degenerative diseases. Currently, there are no pharmacologic treatments available to reverse or even substantially reduce motor disability caused by cerebellar degeneration. Thus, physical therapy forms the sole form of intervention to improve walking ataxia in these individuals. Studies of rehabilitation interventions in this population are difficult, and reports in the literature of their effectiveness remain scarce. Any improvement caused by an intervention could be masked completely by the natural decline associated with disease progression. Perhaps more importantly, the cerebellum is thought to be a primary site of motor learning3,4 and individuals with cerebellar lesions are known to have deficits in motor learning.5,6 This has led many to question whether these individuals are even capable of benefitting from any intervention …