(Loss of co-ordination) results from the degeneration of nerve tissue in the spinal cord and of nerves that control muscle movement in the arms and legs.
Loss of muscle coordination; irregularity of muscle action.
An uncoordinated gait associated with pathology of the central nervous system.
Muscular uncoordination, esp. of the arms and legs.
Failure of the brain to control movements.
Lack of coordination of muscle movement.
Lack of coordination and balance, often resulting in a staggering, awkward, uncertain gait, with legs too far apart, lifted jerkily and abnormally high, then dropped down so the sole of the foot strikes the ground flat; jerky eye movements called nystagmus are often associated. Ataxia generally indicates some kind of damage or disorder in the spinal cord or the part of the brain called the cerebellum, as from childbirth, infection, head injury, brain tumor, response to some toxin (poison), or some other disorder that causes degeneration in the central nervous system, including multiple sclerosis and genetic disorders such as Friedreich’s ataxia or ataxia telangiectasia.
Lack of coordination in muscle action, manifested as unsteady movements and staggering gait and caused by brain or spinal cord lesion.
Uncoordinated muscle activity; spastic or jerky motions.
Lack of coordination caused by nerve or brain damage. Ataxia may impair balance, gait, movement, or speech. Ataxia can also be caused by intoxication with medications or alcohol, infections, strokes, tumors, or chronic hereditary degenerative syndromes, such as Friedreich ataxia or olivopontocerebellar atrophy. Slow or clumsy movement in the early stages of these diseases can eventually become so pronounced that a person requires a wheelchair. Hereditary ataxias may also affect speech and swallowing. These progressive diseases may shorten a person’s life span as a result of complications such as heart disease and respiratory difficulties. The treatment of ataxia is based on the cause.
The shaky movements and unsteady gait that result from the brain’s failure to regulate the body’s posture and the strength and direction of limb movements. It may be due to disease of the sensory nerves or the cerebellum. In cerebellar ataxia there is clumsiness of willed movements. The patient staggers when walking; he cannot pronounce words properly and has ‘nystagmus. Friedreich’s ataxia is an inherited disorder appearing first in adolescence. It has the features of cerebellar ataxia, together with spasticity of the limbs. The unsteady movements of sensory ataxia are exaggerated when the patient closes his eyes.
Loss of coordination, though the power necessary to make the movements is still present. Thus an ataxic person may have a good grip in each hand but be unable to do any fine movements with the fingers; or, if the ataxia is in the legs, the person throws these about a great deal in walking while still being able to lift the legs and take steps quite well. This is due to a sensory defect or to disease of the cerebellum.
Defective muscular coordination, especially that manifested when voluntary muscular movements are attempted.
The incoordination and unsteadiness that result from the brain’s failure to regulate the body’s posture and the strength and direction of limb movements. Ataxia is most often caused by disease activity in the cerebellum.
Impaired coordination and lack of dexterity can manifest as difficulties in maintaining balance and coordination of movements, including those involving limbs, eye coordination, and speech.
Ataxia can arise from injury or impairment to the cerebellum, which plays a pivotal role in coordinating various bodily movements. Additionally, damage to the nerve pathways in the brainstem, a bundle of nerve tissue that connects the brain to the spinal cord, and/or the spinal cord itself can also contribute to the development of ataxia.
Potential factors leading to ataxia comprise trauma or damage to the brain or spinal cord. Among adults, ataxia can be attributed to various causes, including alcohol intoxication, stroke, brain tumor affecting the cerebellum or brainstem, disorders affecting the balance organ in the ear, or conditions such as multiple sclerosis and other forms of nerve degeneration. In children, ataxia may arise from acute infections, brain tumors, or the inherited condition known as Friedreich’s ataxia.
The symptoms experienced in cases of ataxia can vary depending on the specific location of damage within the nervous system. However, a prevalent characteristic across most forms is an unsteady, swaying gait. Furthermore, impairment to specific areas of the brain can result in nystagmus, characterized by rapid, jerky eye movements, as well as slurred speech.
Ataxia can be assessed by employing CT scanning or MRI, which are imaging techniques capable of generating cross-sectional or three-dimensional representations of bodily structures. By utilizing these advanced diagnostic tools, the underlying cause of ataxia can be identified. The appropriate course of treatment for this condition is contingent upon determining the specific causative factors involved.