Improvements in Quality of Life in Individuals with Friedreich’s Ataxia after Participation in a 5-Year Program of Physical Activity: An observational Study Pre-Post Test Design, and Two Years Follow-Up

Unda, Jesus Seco Jon Torres

doi:10.4172/2376-0281.1000129

Preliminary Study of Vibrotactile Feedback during Home-Based Balance and Coordination Training in Individuals with Cerebellar Ataxia

Jabri

¹

,

Bushart

²

,

Kinnaird

³

et al. 2022

Sensors

3

0

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Intensive balance and coordination training is the mainstay of treatment for symptoms of impaired balance and mobility in individuals with hereditary cerebellar ataxia. In this study, we compared the effects of home-based balance and coordination training with and without vibrotactile SA for individuals with hereditary cerebellar ataxia. Ten participants (five males, five females; 47 ± 12 years) with inherited forms of cerebellar ataxia were recruited to participate in a 12-week crossover study during which they completed two six-week blocks of balance and coordination training with and without vibrotactile SA. Participants were instructed to perform balance and coordination exercises five times per week using smartphone balance trainers that provided written, graphic, and video guidance and measured trunk sway. The pre-, per-, and post-training performance were assessed using the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA), SARAposture&gait sub-scores, Dynamic Gait Index, modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction in Balance, Timed Up and Go performed with and without a cup of water, and multiple kinematic measures of postural sway measured with a single inertial measurement unit placed on the participants’ trunks. To explore the effects of training with and without vibrotactile SA, we compared the changes in performance achieved after participants completed each six-week block of training. Among the seven participants who completed both blocks of training, the change in the SARA scores and SARAposture&gait sub-scores following training with vibrotactile SA was not significantly different from the change achieved following training without SA (p>0.05). However, a trend toward improved SARA scores and SARAposture&gait sub-scores was observed following training with vibrotactile SA; compared to their pre-vibrotacile SA training scores, participants significantly improved their SARA scores (mean=−1.21, p=0.02) and SARAposture&gait sub-scores (mean=−1.00, p=0.01). In contrast, no significant changes in SARAposture&gait sub-scores were observed following the six weeks of training without SA compared to their pre-training scores immediately preceding the training block without vibrotactile SA (p>0.05). No significant changes in trunk kinematic sway parameters were observed as a result of training (p>0.05). Based on the findings from this preliminary study, balance and coordination training improved the participants’ motor performance, as captured through the SARA. Vibrotactile SA may be a beneficial addition to training regimens for individuals with hereditary cerebellar ataxia, but additional research with larger sample sizes is needed to assess the significance and generalizability of these findings.

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Epilepsy and Stroke Emerging From Climate Change-Related Neurotoxicity

Benammi

¹

,

Hiba

²

,

Aimrane

³

et al. 2019

Advances in Environmental Engineering and Green Technologies

0

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Climate change has an important impact on the environment. As it degrades the quality of water, soil, and area, it also spreads the distribution of many toxic elements, specifically heavy metals and pesticides. The impact of climate change on contamination with heavy metals and pesticides has been well investigated and discussed. The influence of these elements on human health is obviously exacerbated following their extended distribution. Moreover, a wide range of health problems have been associated to such intoxication, among which impairment and dysfunction of the nervous system are prominent. In this chapter, the authors will shed light on two most common neurological diseases such as epilepsy and stroke affecting people worldwide arising from food and water contaminations, mainly with heavy metals and pesticides.

show abstract

Epilepsy and Stroke Emerging From Climate Change-Related Neurotoxicity

Benammi

¹

,

Hiba

²

,

Aimrane

³

et al. 2022

Research Anthology on Environmental and Societal Impacts of Climate Change

1

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Climate change has an important impact on the environment. As it degrades the quality of water, soil, and area, it also spreads the distribution of many toxic elements, specifically heavy metals and pesticides. The impact of climate change on contamination with heavy metals and pesticides has been well investigated and discussed. The influence of these elements on human health is obviously exacerbated following their extended distribution. Moreover, a wide range of health problems have been associated to such intoxication, among which impairment and dysfunction of the nervous system are prominent. In this chapter, the authors will shed light on two most common neurological diseases such as epilepsy and stroke affecting people worldwide arising from food and water contaminations, mainly with heavy metals and pesticides.

show abstract

Improvements in Quality of Life in Individuals with Friedreich’s Ataxia after Participation in a 5-Year Program of Physical Activity: An observational Study Pre-Post Test Design, and Two Years Follow-Up

Cited by 3 publications

References 39 publications

Preliminary Study of Vibrotactile Feedback during Home-Based Balance and Coordination Training in Individuals with Cerebellar Ataxia

Preliminary Study of Vibrotactile Feedback during Home-Based Balance and Coordination Training in Individuals with Cerebellar Ataxia

Epilepsy and Stroke Emerging From Climate Change-Related Neurotoxicity

Epilepsy and Stroke Emerging From Climate Change-Related Neurotoxicity

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