The use of Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) in the rehabilitation of ataxic patients

Abstract

The aim of this study was to formulate an exercise program according to GAS, an approach that reflects the patients' point of view and expectations and investigate the effects of this program in ataxia rehabilitation. This study was designed as an assessor-blinded, single-group trial, and 24 patients with cerebellar ataxia were included. Treatment goals, postural control, disease severity, and daily living activities were assessed pre- and post-treatment using the Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS), the Sensory Organization Test (SOT), the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS), and the Barthel Index (BI), respectively. An exercise program was applied by taking patients' individual expectations and treatment goals into account. The participants enrolled in the physiotherapy program for 8 weeks, 3 days a week for 1 hour per day. The mean age of the patients was 34.00 ± 9.15 years. While the GAS, kinetic functions ICARS subscores, ICARS total scores, SOT-composite, and BI scores improved significantly after treatment (p < 0.05), other ICARS subscores did not change after treatment (p > 0.05). The results showed that putting the patient at the center of the evaluation and treatment process while formulating a treatment plan had a positive effect on treatment outcome. If the functions that patients consider important are known and the treatment process concentrates on these functions, a patient's participation in his/her individual treatment is supported by increasing his/her motivation and contribution to more successful rehabilitation practices.

Exercise Training and Neurodegeneration in Mitochondrial Disorders: Insights From the Harlequin Mouse

“…Beyond its welldocumented fitness benefits for virtually all population groups, regular exercise might also have potential neuroprotective effects including improving central nervous system (CNS) blood flow and cognitive function, and preventing neurodegeneration and cognitive decline (Delezie and Handschin, 2018;Liu-Ambrose et al, 2018;Cabral et al, 2019;Valenzuela et al, 2020). While more research is needed, there is preliminary evidence supporting that exercise training might also attenuate, at least partly, the cerebellar degeneration associated with some diseases, and thus potentially alleviate ataxic symptoms (Aranca et al, 2016;Ayvat et al, 2018;Oliveira et al, 2018). In this regard, although there is evidence that exercise training -including aerobic exercises alone or in combination with resistance (strength) training -can improve cardiorespiratory fitness and/or muscle mass/strength in patients with MD (Cejudo et al, 2005;Taivassalo et al, 1996Taivassalo et al, , 1998Taivassalo et al, , 1999Taivassalo et al, , 2001Taivassalo et al, , 2006Adhihetty et al, 2007;Murphy et al, 2008;Jeppesen et al, 2006Jeppesen et al, , 2009Siciliano et al, 2000Siciliano et al, , 2012Bates et al, 2013;Fiuza-Luces et al, 2018a) and in preclinical models of MD (Clark-Matott et al, 2015;Safdar et al, 2011Safdar et al, , 2016Fiuza-Luces et al, 2019;Ross et al, 2019), the evidence regarding potential neuroprotective effects is more scarce, with data supporting aerobic training-induced neuroprotection reported only in the mitochondrial DNA Mutator mouse (Safdar et al, 2011;Clark-Matott et al, 2015;Ross et al, 2019).…”

Characteristics of goal-setting tools in adult rehabilitation: A scoping review

“…Six of the identified tools were described and studied in five or more articles. These included Goal Attainment Scaling including Goal Attainment Scaling for Major Depressive Disorder and Goal Attainment Scaling for Upper Limb Spasticity 28–57,113,114,118–143,150,172,181 ( n = 61), Canadian Occupational Performance Measure 6,25–27,101,103…”

“…Only five of the identified tools made use of information and communications technology for goal setting, four of which were categorized as tools for goal selection and goal documentation. These included Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, 6,25–27,101,103–114,142,171,175,176 Goal Attainment Scaling, 28–57,113,114,118<...…”

Nomothetic EORTC IN-PATSAT 32 and idiographic GAS questionnaires in the assessment of surgical treatment in patients with endometrial cancer

“…The mean values were 49.15 ± 10.72. The authors of the study noticed that the use of GAS to assess the set treatment goals increased its effectiveness (16) . The authors of a pilot study in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) drew similar conclusions.…”