Objective: 

Recent studies have shown that whole body stimulation improves posture and gait control in stroke patients. Patients with degenerative cerebellar disease suffer from ataxic gait also. The aim of this study was to test whole-body stimulation as a potential method for rehabilitation treatment in cerebellar patients.

Methods: 

In our program healthy subjects (CTRL, N=9) and cerebellar patients (CBL, N=9) stand on a moving force platform that generates sinusoidal stimulation movements lasting 3 min with 8 repetitions. Between stimulations subjects had to perform blocks of 20 fast or precise sidesteps to quantify any improvement. During these manoeuvres the trajectory of the centre of vertical pressure (CVP) was derived from the forces exerted by the subjects on the platform. For comparison during the dynamic section of the step, movement time was normalized to a common time interval template using standard interpolation techniques.

Results: 

CTRL and CBL showed differences in performing both fast and precise steps. For example, CTRL performed the fast steps 1.8 times faster than precise steps whereas CBL performed them only 1.3 times faster. After stimulation, CBL showed reductions in both the CVP trajectory length (15%) and in its third derivative jerk (38%) indicating an improvement of movement coordination. Subjective judgements showed that particularly CBL benefit from the procedure.

Conclusion: 

The temporarily reduced postural-based ataxia in CBL and the subjective estimation of their general and their motor specific state suggest that whole-body stimulation may improve gait and stance of the patients. Supported by the "Else-Kröner-Fresenius Stiftung" (A12/07)