ATAXIA IMPROVED THROUGH APPLICATION OF MULTIMODAL NEUROREHABILITATION APPROACH
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1
Carrick Institute, United States
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2
Life University, United States
Background:
We describe a 20 year-old male who presents with a twelve year history of progressive ataxia. Symptoms include poor balance and coordination, poor gross and fine motor skills, stiffness, fatigue and inability to walk without assistance.
Methods:
Ataxia was confirmed by neurologic examination. Aberrant saccades, pursuits, and optokinetic responses were noted. Square wave jerks were present on left gaze fixation. A right beating nystagmus was present on right gaze fixation. Decreased joint position sense and sensation to pinwheel was present in the lower extremity bilaterally. Patellar myotatic stretch reflexes were plus three bilaterally. The patient participated in an in house neurorehabilitation program that included off-vertical-axis-rotation vestibular rehabilitation, passive multi-planar movements of proximal joints, specific oculomotor rehabilitation, times-one viewing gaze stabilization exercises, cross-crawl exercises and gait rehabilitation.
Results:
The combination of treatment protocols produced profound changes in the patient’s state
of being. Symptoms associated with the ataxia were dramatically reduced and the patient has been able to walk without assistance as a result of this intervention.
Conclusion:
This case showed significant improvements after administration of the multimodal neurorehabilitation regimen described. The authors suggest further investigation into vestibular rehabilitation mechanisms and brain-based approaches to patient treatments with ataxic syndromes.
Keywords:
Ataxia,
Balance control,
coordination,
Neurorehabilitation,
Vestibular Rehabilitation
Conference:
International Symposium on Clinical Neuroscience: TBI and Neurodegeneration, Orlando, Florida, United States, 10 Dec - 14 Dec, 2015.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Case Reports for Poster Presentation
Citation:
Carrick
FR,
Traster
DJ,
Esposito
S and
Albertin
D
(2015). ATAXIA IMPROVED THROUGH APPLICATION OF MULTIMODAL NEUROREHABILITATION APPROACH.
Front. Neurol.
Conference Abstract:
International Symposium on Clinical Neuroscience: TBI and Neurodegeneration.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fneur.2015.58.00096
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Received:
02 Sep 2015;
Published Online:
02 Nov 2015.
*
Correspondence:
Prof. Frederick R Carrick, Carrick Institute, Cape Canaveral, United States, drfrcarrick@post.harvard.edu
Dr. David J Traster, Carrick Institute, Cape Canaveral, United States, dtraster3@gmail.com
Dr. Susan Esposito, Life University, Marietta, United States, susan.esposito@life.edu
Dr. Diana Albertin, Carrick Institute, Cape Canaveral, United States, doctorannie28@gmail.com