Intralimb incoordination in patients with ataxia.
Intralimb incoordination needs to be distinguished from interlimb incoordination, which is observed in Parkinson's disease (PD). With this aim, intra and inter-limb coordination impairment in the lower limbs were measured in 13 patients with cerebellar ataxia during pedaling of an ergometer with left and right pedals that can be rotated independently. Intralimb incoordination in patients with cerebellar ataxia was compared with interlimb incoordiation in patients with PD. We concluded that impairment of intralimb coordination in ataxia patients leads to inability to maintain pedaling amplitude and speed, but unlike in PD, right and left coordination was roughly preserved. Our method may be useful for assessing the severity of ataxia and detecting hidden parkinsonism in ataxic patients.
Unit of Physical Therapy, Osaka University Hospital, 2-15 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. matsuo@hp-rehab.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Yoshimi
Y
Matsuo
Yoshiyuki
Y
Asai
Taishin
T
Nomura
Shunsuke
S
Sato
Satoru
S
Inoue
Isao
I
Mizukura
Toshihiko
T
Yoneda
Akinori
A
Miki
Kazuo
K
Abe
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D005080:Exercise Test; D005121:Extremities / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012016:Reference Values