1. Find a Physical Therapist
Physical therapy is used to treat the muscle weakness and loss associated with Friedreich's ataxia, an inherited condition in which the nerves lose their ability to conduct impulses quickly and efficiently throughout your body. As a result of the nerve damage, your muscles will begin to waste away and you'll find it difficult to walk, make coordinated movements with your arms and legs and balance when standing. Your physical therapist may recommend adaptive equipment that you can use to get around easier, such as a chair lift in your home or a walker to use at school or work.
2. Improve Communication With Speech Therapy
One of the symptoms of Friedreich's ataxia is slurred and very slow speech, which can make communication difficult. Entering into a speech-therapy program can vastly improve your ability to communicate, because you'll learn how to work with your weakened facial muscles. A speech therapist or pathologist may also teach you alternate forms of communication if needed, such as sign language or the use of a pictorial communication board.
3. Treat Related Conditions
It's very important to treat underlying diseases that you may develop as a result of your Friedreich's ataxia. One of these potentially lethal conditions is heart disease. People who have this form of ataxia often show signs of an enlarged heart, called cardiomyopathy, or heart rhythm disorders, called arrhythmias. If you are found to have heart damage, your doctor will monitor you closely, and probably put you on medications to treat the specific concern.
As many as 10 percent of people who have Friedreich's ataxia develop diabetes. If you receive this diagnosis, you'll need to address it by following a diabetic diet that is low in sugar and carbohydrates. Your doctor will determine whether or not you need insulin supplements to control your blood-glucose levels.
4. Correct Orthopedic Concerns
Most people who have Friedreich's ataxia develop scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, to some degree. Downward-bending deformities of the toes, called hammertoes, and an inward turning of the foot, called a clubfoot, are also common. Schedule consultations with an orthopedist to determine the best course of action to treat these issues. You may need to wear braces to correct the positioning of your back and feet, which may also help improve your mobility. Surgery can be used to correct severe impairments.
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