Ataxia

The Jankowski method is a new approach to Ataxia rehabilitation.   Mild to moderate cases of Ataxia can be treated successfully to full recovery  It is very successful.  Severe Ataxia may limit your recovery  due to the severity of the damage to the brain.  Generally we say ‘the smaller the injury is  the better the recovery will be.   We have tested our approach on patients who suffer from Spinocerebellar ataxia and patients diagnosed with Friedreichs ataxia.  We were able to make progress and restrict the progression of this debilitating  condition.   It is extremely important to initiate rehabilitation using our treatment ( Jankowski method   ) to delay progression of this disease and restore as much motor control as possible.   If you don’t have access to physical therapy. you should religiously perform our exercise program,which can be obtained from our website,with instructions.  This treatment will be presented via lecture shortly.

Definition:

Ataxia describes a lack of muscle coordination during voluntary movements, such as walking or picking up objects. Ataxia can affect your movements, your speech, your eye movements and your ability to swallow.

Persistent Ataxia usually results from damage to your cerebellum- the part of your brain that controls muscle coordination. Many conditions may cause Ataxia, including stroke, tumor, cerebral palsy and alcohol abuse. It’s also possible to inherit a defective gene that may cause one of many Ataxia variants.

Symptoms:

  • Poor coordination
  • Unsteady walk and tendency to stumble
  • Difficulty with fine-motor tasks, such a eating, writing or buttoning a shirt
  • Change in speech
  • Involuntary back-and-forth eye movements (nystagmus)
  • Difficulty swallowing