Ataxia

Question 1

Spinocerebellar ataxia

Answer 1

Impairments include - Ataxic gait, dysarthria, dysphagia, abnormal eye movement

Question 2

Cerebellar ataxia vs sensory ataxia

Answer 2

SENSORY
caused by structural or functional change to sensory nerves

results in interruption of the sensory feedback

results in appearance of ataxic movements

CEREBELLAR
caused by structural or functional change to the cerebellum or cerebellar pathways

results in appearance of ataxic movements

Question 3

clinical recognition of type of ataxia

Answer 3

finger nose test
rhombergs test

Question 4

dysmetria

Answer 4

inaccurate size of movement to match requirements of task
- Hypermetria = overshoots target
- Hypometria = undershoots target

Assessed: Finger to Nose Test

Abnormal test result: overshoots or undershoots target

Functional area of the cerebellum Spinocerebellum

Question 5

Intention tremor

Answer 5

involuntary, oscillatory and rhythmic movement (particularly when approaching target)

• Assessed: Finger Nose Test

Abnormal test result: tremor evident as APPROACH the target

Functional area:Spinocerebellum

Question 6

Dysdiadochokinesia

Answer 6

difficulty with rapid alternating movements (eg. rapidly go from flexion to extension)

Assessed: through observation of rapid movements with change of direction eg. finger/ hand/ foot tapping, supination/ pronation(

Abnormal test result: slowed reversal of movement, poor rhythm/ timing of movement, decreased size of movement

Functional area: Spinocerebellum

Question 7

ocular dysmetria

Answer 7

eyes are not able to be moved accurately to a target

Assessed: through observation of eyes as they move from one target to another target

Functional area: Vestibulocerebellum

Question 8

nyastagmus

Answer 8

involuntary oscillation of the eye (vestibular system is thinking head is moving when it actually isn’t)

Assessed: through observation of the eyes in primary gaze and during movement

Question 9

Ataxic dysarthria

Answer 9

change in force, timing, range and direction of movement of the articulators that gives a very slurred sounding presentation

Assessed: assessment of articulation and prosody

Abnormal test result: dysarthria changes prosody

Functional area of the cerebellum that may be affected: Spinocerebellum and Cerebrocerebellum

Question 10

ataxic gait

Answer 10

wide base of support and feet may be angled out

large variability in the walking pattern - slower walking speed
, increased risk of falls, postural instability, irregularity

Assessed: observation of walking etc.

Functional area of cerebellum that may have been affected: Spinocerebellum