Abstract
Objective. The present study aimed to characterize the functional capacity, disease status, cardiorespiratory fitness and quality of life of a sample of patients with spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). The associations between these measures were also investigated. Methods. Fourteen individuals with SCA were included. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing; functionality with the Berg Balance Scale and the Dynamic Gait Index; severity of ataxia with the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia Score and the Brief Ataxia Rating Scale; and health-related quality of life measures with the Brazilian-Portuguese version of the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey. Results. The severity of SCA was associated with poor physical conditioning, overall functionality and quality of life. Conclusion. The knowledge produced by this study is important to motivate health professionals to promote exercise prescription to SCA patients. This study may point the way to the development of evidence-based protocols to recover and/or maintain functional and exercise capacity as well as to provide knowledge for the prevention of functional losses related not only to the disease but also to inactivity.
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