How to treat and care for ataxia?

Some people may not know about ataxia, which is a movement coordination disorder that can manifest in many aspects, mainly limb disorders. The treatment of ataxia is very important. There are many treatment methods. Whether it is surgical or non-surgical treatment, the prognosis must be paid attention to.

1. For patients with ataxia, in addition to general supportive therapy, acupuncture, physical therapy and limb function training can be used to treat the disease. Various B vitamins, intramuscular injection of cytidine diphosphate, oral lecithin, etc. can also be used. Patients in the late stage should pay attention to preventing various infections. Arched feet can be treated with corrective surgery or by wearing orthopedic shoes. The disease develops slowly and, unless there are serious cardiopulmonary complications, does not affect life expectancy in most cases.

2. Patients with ataxia should pay attention to the quietness of the room, dim the light, and reduce all interference to the patient. When the patient's memory and intelligence are impaired, it is difficult for them to express their symptoms, so the symptoms are hidden, atypical, and multi-disease coexisting. The changes in the condition need to be observed comprehensively and carefully. Do not change the original lifestyle habits of patients in the chronic stage. For example, getting up early, washing, eating, and placing items can all be done naturally. Try to encourage individuals to take care of themselves and do things they like. Enhance the patient's sense of responsibility, such as being responsible for opening and closing the doors and windows of his or her own room, cleaning the bedside table, sweeping the floor, etc., so that he or she can maintain confidence in life. Maintain regularity in daily life, diet and sleep. Gradually develop good living habits. Patients with mental symptoms should be careful to avoid various factors that trigger mental symptoms.

3. (1) Initially, train the patient to make small, smooth, and fluid movements. The range gradually increases as the patient's control improves.

(2) Treatment should focus on training the patient to balance on a normal base of support (i.e., standing with the feet at a normal distance rather than with the feet farther apart due to fear of instability) and in an anti-gravity position.

(3) To develop balance in the anti-gravity position, the first step is to make the position as stable as possible by adding points of fixation to increase stability and by applying compression, such as downward compression through the shoulders of the upper limbs when supported on a table or bed or downward compression through the pelvis when standing.