Motor improvement in cerebellar ataxia after integral rehabilitation

Jorge L Jorge-Rodríguez,¹ Elizabeth Fernández-Martínez,¹ Daymi Rodríguez Pérez,¹ Antonio Peralta-Flores,² Jorge A Bergado<sup>1

1</sup>International Center for Neurological Restoration, ²University for Sport Science and Physical Culture, Havana, Cuba

Abstract: Cerebellar ataxia is a complex motor impairment arising from neurologic disease. The dysfunction significantly impairs quality of movement, equilibrium, and gait. In this study, we evaluated motor function in 20 patients with acquired or degenerative ataxia undergoing rehabilitation using a program developed at the International Center for Restorative Neurology in Havana. All patients were evaluated before and 28 and 42 days after treatment using the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) and measurement of maximal strength. Analysis of variance demonstrated a significant reduction in ICARS score, indicating reduction in the severity of ataxia. A highly significant correlation was found between change in ICARS score and increase in lower limb strength. The program developed at the International Center for Restorative Neurology in Havana for rehabilitation of ataxia was shown to be effective for ameliorating motor impairment in patients with ataxia, independent of its etiology.

Keywords: ataxia, rehabilitation, motor recovery, strength, plasticity