Cerebellar ataxic gait In cerebellar ataxia, stance and gait appear broad based, insecure and wobbly. Leg movements and step length are irregular and variable. The ataxia increases on turning and during complex gait tests, such as tandem walk and walking on uneven surfaces.
The clinical features of cerebellar ataxic gait usually include a widened base, unsteadiness and irregularity of steps, and lateral veering. Locomotion in individuals with cerebellar ataxia is characterized by a significantly reduced step frequency with a prolonged stance and double limb support duration.
Stance and posture: In cerebellar lesions, patients tend to have a broad-based stance. The examiner may notice side to side or back and forth swaying of the body while the patient is standing; this is known as titubation.
Ataxic, or broad-based, gait -- feet wide apart with irregular, jerky, and weaving or slapping when trying to walk. Magnetic gait -- shuffling with feet feeling as if they stick to the ground. Antalgic gait -- when pain prevents the normal motion of the feet or legs.
Clinical descriptions of cerebellar gait usually include a widened base, unsteadiness and irregularity of steps, and lateral veering. 3. The patient may compensate for these abnormalities by shortening the steps and shuffling.
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.
Normal Gait
Mature gait has reciprocal arm-swing and heel strike with increased velocity, cadence, step length, single-limb stance time, and ratio of pelvis span to ankle spread when both feet are on the ground, due to increased stability and limb length.
Finger-to-Nose Test
Instruct the patient to extend their arms outward from the sides of the body, and then touch the tip of the nose with the right index finger and return the arm to extended position. Repeat with the left side and continue to repeat touching the nose with alternating movements by both arms.
Perform Romberg's test by asking the patient to stand unaided with their eyes closed. If the patient sways or loses balance then this test is positive. Stand near the patient in case they fall.
Gait ataxia is probably the most common manifestation of cerebellar damage; it is often the first clinical sign of damage to the cerebellum and is also one of the most troublesome symptoms for patients.
Ataxia describes poor muscle control that causes clumsy voluntary movements. It may cause difficulty with walking and balance, hand coordination, speech and swallowing, and eye movements. Ataxia usually results from damage to the part of the brain that controls muscle coordination (cerebellum) or its connections.
Cerebellar lesions are most often associated with the clinical findings of ataxia, which may affect the limbs, trunk, or even speech (producing a specific type of dysarthria known as scanning speech), dysequilibrium as manifested by a wide-based gait, and muscular hypotonia.
Spinocerebellar ataxias
The symptoms vary depending on the type of SCA. They can include: problems with balance and co-ordination – many people find walking difficult and need to use a wheelchair after a few years. increasingly slurred, slow and unclear speech (dysarthria)
Sixty-two-percent of patients over the age of 80 have a gait disorder, whether from neurological or non-neurological cause. Ataxia refers to lack of coordination and can include staggering gait as well as uncoordinated arm movements, speech and eye movements.
Cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, Charcot Marie Tooth disease, ataxia-telangiectasia, spinal muscular atrophy, peroneal neuropathy, and microvascular white-matter disease all cause significant gait disabilities.
There are eight basic pathological gaits that can be attributed to neurological conditions: hemiplegic, spastic diplegic, neuropathic, myopathic, Parkinsonian, choreiform, ataxic (cerebellar) and sensory.
Cerebellar dysfunction causes balance problems and gait disorders along with difficulties in coordination resulting in ataxia, uncoordinated movements, imbalance, speech problems(dysarthria), visual problems (nystagmus) and vertigo as a part of the vestibulocerebellar system.
Symptoms of cerebellar stroke are typically vague. However, they might include sudden dizziness or vertigo, loss of coordination, difficulty walking, and slurred speech. Cerebellar strokes are a medical emergency and require immediate treatment.
In general, life expectancy is shorter than normal for those with Cerebellar Degenerative Ataxia, although many patients live well into their 50s or even their 60s.