Abstract
Objective : The purpose of this study was to provide a better understanding of the effect of short–term intensive rehabilitation on the balance of patients with spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD), using Mini–Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini–BESTest).
Methods : Fourteen patients with SCD, including those with multisystem atrophy, participated in this study and received four weeks of intensive rehabilitation. Pretest and posttest analysis with Mini–BESTest and the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) were performed. Data from SARA and Mini–BESTest, containing four subcategories, were analyzed by the Wilcoxon's signed–rank test.
Results : Overall, there was a significant improvement in the posttest scores of SARA and Mini–BESTest compared to the pretest scores. Specifically, three subcategories of the Mini–BESTest (Anticipatory, Sensory orientation, Dynamic gait) were significantly different.
Conclusions : These findings suggest that the Mini–BESTest is a practical and helpful assessment tool in short–term intensive rehabilitation of patients with SCD.
