Parag Sawant
Occupational Therapist at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai, India
Title: FUNCTIONAL APPROACH IN SPINOCEREBELLAR ATAXIA- OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PERSPECTIVE
Biography
Biography: Parag Sawant
Abstract
Functional approach in spinocerebellar ataxia- occupational therapy perspective: The cerebellum is known to play a strong functional role in both motor control and motor learning. Ataxia following degenerative cerebellar disease becomes a major cause of disability. Objective was to rate ataxia and assesses the Functional Independence and Balance in the context of Occupational Therapy. 3 male patients with diagnosis of Spinocerebellar ataxia, in the age group of 20- 30 years were screened on MMSE to rule out cognitive impairment and ensure the utility of intervention. Ataxia was rated using Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA). The subjects underwent 3 months of Occupational Therapy (OT) intervention including physical exercises, therapeutic activities, Intensive coordination training, prescription of adaptive aids, Balance retraining and functional retraining using Top Down Approach and were assessed on Functional Independence Measure Functional Assessment Measure, Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) pre and post intervention and statistically analysed using paired’t’ test. Pre intervention mean score on FIM FAM scale was 199 ± 5.57 which increased to 202.66 ± 6.03 post intervention and was statistically significant at t = 11, P< 0.01.The mean score on BBS increased from 38 ± 2 to 39.66 ± 2.08 ; post intervention and was statistically significant at t= 5, P< 0.05. Scores on SARA were also maintained which shows there was no worsening of symptoms. It can be concluded that OT intervention was effective in improving functional independence in Patients with SCA in study population. Further research is recommended with larger sample size.