What is Ataxic Gait? Ataxic gait is often characterized by difficulty walking in a straight line, lateral veering, poor balance, a widened base of support, inconsistent arm motion, and lack of repeatability. These symptoms often resemble gait seen under the influence of alcohol.
Ataxic Gait
Most commonly seen in cerebellar disease, this gait is described as clumsy, staggering movements with a wide-based gait. While standing still, the patient's body may swagger back and forth and from side to side, known as titubation.
An unsteady, staggering gait is described as an ataxic gait because walking is uncoordinated and appears to be 'not ordered'. Many motor activities may be described as ataxic if they appear to others, or are perceived by patients, as uncoordinated.
In walking, ataxia is evident by a shortened stride length, high step pattern, and decreased push-off and veering. These gait deviations have been closely linked to the severity of the individual's balance deficits. These deficits lead to taxing and unsafe mobility.
(uh-TAK-sik gayt) Awkward, uncoordinated walking.
People diagnosed with ataxia lose muscle control in their arms and legs, which may lead to a lack of balance, coordination, and trouble walking. Ataxia may affect the fingers, hands, arms, legs, body, speech, and even eye movements.
The treatment for ataxia can vary depending on exactly what type of ataxia you have. It's sometimes possible to treat the underlying cause of the condition so it improves or stops getting worse, but in most cases this isn't possible and you'll have treatment to relieve your symptoms.
Ataxia is uncoordinated movement. A gait disorder is an abnormal pattern or style of walking.
acquired ataxia – this can affect people of any age and usually develops very quickly over the course of a few days, or sometimes hours; it may improve over time, stay the same or get slowly worse.
Dementia occurs only in some forms of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), such as SCA1,1 SCA2, SCA3,2 and SCA12,3 developing in the latest stages of the disease.
On February 28th, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved SKYCLARYS, the first drug ever to treat Friedreich's ataxia, following a multisite clinical trial that included the University of Florida, UF Health and the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases.
Diagnosing Ataxia
Upon completion of the neurological exam, we might use any of the following tests to determine the cause of ataxia: Brain and spinal cord MRI (with or without contrast) Blood tests. Full-body CT scan to look for cancers elsewhere that can indirectly affect the cerebellum.
Life expectancy is generally shorter than normal for people with hereditary ataxia, although some people can live well into their 50s, 60s or beyond. In more severe cases, the condition can be fatal in childhood or early adulthood. For acquired ataxia, the outlook depends on the underlying cause.
An MRI can sometimes show shrinkage of the cerebellum and other brain structures in people with ataxia. It may also show other treatable findings, such as a blood clot or benign tumor. Lumbar puncture (spinal tap). In some cases of ataxia, this may be a helpful test.
Even in families where hereditary ataxia has presented in multiple generations, patients may struggle for an accurate diagnosis because the disease can be mistaken for other movement disorders, such as multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
There are several different types of gait abnormalities, the most common include: Antalgic gait: An antalgic gait is the result of pain. It's the most common type of abnormal gait.
Ataxia is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS) that affects about 80% of people with the disease. If you have primary progressive or secondary progressive MS, you may be more likely to develop ataxia at some point. Many people with MS have only mild ataxia symptoms.
Symptoms of Friedreich's ataxia often start between ages 5 and 15, although they can develop later in life. Physical symptoms include: Trouble walking. Tiredness.
The duration of episodes may vary from seconds to days, and the frequency ranges from several episodes per day to one or two every few months. Between episodes, affected individuals may have no signs or symptoms. However, some continue to experience ataxia, which may worsen over time.
Symptoms may worsen slowly, over decades – or quickly, over mere months. Common symptoms of Ataxia are: Lack of coordination. Slurred speech.
Neuromotor exercises and physical therapy focusing on coordination and balance has been shown to improve or halt the progression of functional decline and are the mainstay treatments for Ataxia.
If you drive, you must inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) as soon as you are diagnosed with ataxia. This does not automatically mean you have to stop driving.
Ataxia patients may sometimes benefit by avoiding simple carbohydrates. What this means is to eliminate foods sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, sugar, and artificial sweetener; no or very small amounts of cookies, cakes, candies, pastries, white flour, and fruit juice.