Treatment Options For Spinocerebellar Ataxia

Physical Therapy

Spinocerebellar ataxia patients may benefit from undergoing physical therapy as a part of their treatment plan. A regimen that includes one hour of intensive physical therapy each day for four consecutive weeks with a special concentration on gait, strength, and balance can improve symptoms of cerebellar ataxia. Physical therapy methods that may be especially beneficial for individuals who have cerebellar ataxia include the use of the treadmill, neurophysiological assessment, weighting on the torso, and noninvasive brain stimulation atop of the cerebellum. 

Weighting on the torso can be accomplished with the use of a balance disk or a balance ball. These methods have proven to be successful in helping a patient with motor learning and sensory-motor control. Physical therapy can help enhance the patient's ability to sit, stand, walk, and balance correctly. In individuals with symptoms primarily related to muscle weakness, physical therapy can be helpful even if it is only to strengthen and maintain the strength of the affected muscles.