Ataxia means ‘lack of order’. People with Ataxia have problems with movement, balance, and speech. Over 10,000 people in the UK have a form of Ataxia.
The symptoms of Ataxia can be problems with:
- Walking
- Balance
- Speaking
- Vision
- Problems with fine motor skills
- Lack of co-ordination/tremor
- Swallowing
- General functional activities.
There are three main categories of ataxia:
- Acquired Ataxia – where the person has a sudden development of symptoms following a stroke, MS, injury, vitamin B12 deficiency, drugs, alcohol abuse etc
- Hereditary Ataxia – symptoms develop slowly over years and are related to genetic problems e.g Friedrich’s ataxia
- Idiopathic Cerebellar Ataxia – where an area of the brain, the cerebellum is progressively damaged.
Physiotherapy For Ataxia Rehabilitation
Physiotherapy with Ataxia is aimed at helping you to maximise your functional abilities and remain as independent as possible. Possible physiotherapy treatment is:
- Strengthening
- Balance and co-ordination rehabilitation
- Postural stability
- Exercise programmes – including intensity training
Stretching exercises
- Mobility assessment including the provision of aids
- Education and advice
- Working with other health and social care professionals
- Fall prevention and advice on fall management.
