3. O bjectives
1. Understand cerebellar ataxia linking symptoms to neuroanatomy.
2. Discuss specific physical therapy evaluation measures for cerebellar
ataxia based on currentresearch.
3. Provide examples of specific clinical interventions for cerebellar ataxia
based on available evidence.
4. Utilize a case study to further improve understanding of translating
cerebellarataxia researchinto clinical practice.
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4. What is Ataxia?
“Incoordinationof movement
followingdamage of the sensoryor
cerebellum system.”(Bastian AJ, 1997)
Greek – “disorderly”or “without
order”
Commonly associated with disease
pathology of the cerebellum, but it
can stem from other areas
www.ataxi a.org
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5. Role of Cerebellum
Main Functions
Coordination
Movementquality
Other Functions
Motor learning
Motor control
Automaticity
Posture
Balance
Cognition
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6. Motor Control and Motor Learning
Motor Control
Ability to regulatemechanisms
essentialfor movement
Involves initiating, directing, and
grading movement
Planexecutionfine tuning
(Cerebellum)
Motor Learning
Process by which a new motor task
is acquired
Requires practice
Cerebellum plays a critical role
Levels of mastery (automaticity)
Optimization facilitates outcomes
(Shumway-Cook A, Woollacott M; 2007) (Kitago T, et al 2013)
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13. Vestibulocerebellar Functions
Enhancesbalance by coordinating postural adjustments(anticipatoryand
compensatory)
Controls eye movementsvia VOR’s
Dysfunction
Imbalance
Disequilibrium
Nystagmus
Truncal ataxia
Significant swaying during standing, staggering during gait
Fall
Slide used with permission from Dr. James Lin
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14. Spinocerebellum
Coordination of synergistic movementpatterns needed for specific task
Particularly movements of proximal limb and trunk
Detectsand aids in adjustment of movementsrelative to desired vs actual
Dysfunctions
Dyssyngeria
Dysmetria
Lock of movement check (rebound)
Ataxia of gait and stance
Slide used with permission from Dr. James Lin
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