Spinocerebellar degeneration, also called Friedreich's ataxia, is a genetic disease that causes multiple coordination problems and sensory loss. As parts of the brain and spinal cord are worn away, it becomes increasingly difficult to control your movement, speech and balance. This results in unsteady gait, general muscle weakness, reduced ability to feel vibrations in your legs, hearing loss and other complications.
Why Exercise?
Several complications could result from spinocerebellar degeneration with the possibility of complete mobility loss in severe cases. Survival depends on your ability to maintain flexibility, prevent contractures, maintain a healthy body mass index and optimize physical condition. Luckily, you can achieve all these through exercise and expert help from qualified physical therapists. The ultimate aim of exercises in spinocerebellar degeneration is to prevent secondary complications.
Lying Balance Exercises
Start with lying on your back, then slowly coming into the bridge position, supporting your weight on your arms and legs. Lie face down and move on to support your weight with your forearms. Crawl for a while, then get on your knees from the crawling position. From the knee position, make an attempt to get into the sitting position. You need assistance to maintain stability while changing from one position to the other. Repeat the procedure a few times, but avoid much fatigue, as recommended by the Center for International Rehabilitation Research.
Standing and Gait Exercises
The Center for International Rehabilitation Research recommends standing and gait exercises. Transfer your weight from one side to the other by alternating the leg you stand on. Practice transferring weight from the back to the front and vice-versa. Stand on one leg and try to maintain balance. Don't worry if you struggle with this -- it's the most challenging exercise for your condition. Because balance and gait work together, practice walking on two narrow lines to improve your gait. Walk in tandem gait or heel-to-toe position, and practice backward gait and slowed-down gait. Ask someone to give you sudden directions to run and stop and practice head rotations from one side to the other.
Realistic Expectations
A study published in the July 2010 edition of "Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation" revealed that spinocerebellar degeneration decreases your capacity for exercise. Therefore, while exercises are encouraged, be careful with your choice of exercises and be realistic in your expectations for improvement. Always seek the doctor or physical therapist's advice before changing your exercise routines. The Friedreich's ataxia parents' group advises practicing in front of a mirror to improve coordination.
References
- PubMed Health: Friedreich's Ataxia
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: Friedreich Ataxia
- "Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation"; Exercise Capacity and Idebenone Intervention in Children and Adolescents With Friedreich Ataxia; B.E. Drinkard, et al.; July 2010
- Center for International Rehabilitation Research: Ataxia: Physical Therapy
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