2022 Volume 18 Issue 1 Pages 181-190
Objective: Few intervention studies have focused on upper limb function in patients with cerebellar ataxia. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of upper limb target-tracking task training on upper limb coordination in patients with cerebellar ataxia.
Methods: Six patients with cerebellar-type multiple system atrophy underwent training (20 min/day for 10 days), which involved using the left and right index fingers to track a target that moved at a constant speed on several kinds of simple figures. The evaluation was conducted using the iPad® Application for Evaluating Ataxia (iPatax), Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA), and Simple Test for Evaluating Hand Function (STEF).
Results: The coefficient of variation of the velocity of iPatax showed a tendency to decrease after training with the straight line and circle test, indicating the stability of upper limb movement speed. However, the SARA score did not change after training. The total time of STEF was shortened for the left and right hand after training in all cases, indicating improvements in the accuracy of motion and motor performance of the upper limbs.
Conclusion: Upper limb target-tracking task training may be useful for improving upper limb coordination in patients with cerebellar ataxia. In addition, iPatax can be used to detect smaller changes in symptoms that are not reflected in SARA.
