A wearable proprioceptive stabilizer for rehabilitation of limb and gait ataxia in hereditary cerebellar ataxias: a pilot open-labeled study

Luca Leonardi , Maria Gabriella Aceto , Christian Marcotulli, Giuseppe Arcuria, Mariano Serrao, Francesco Pierelli, Paolo Paone, Alessandro Filla, Alessandro Roca, Carlo Casali

Neurol Sci, Mar. 2017

1. The aim of this pilot study is to test the feasibility and effectiveness of a wearable proprioceptive stabilizer that emits focal mechanical vibrations in patients affected by hereditary cerebellar ataxias.

2. Eleven adult patients with a confirmed genetic diagnosis of autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia or Friedreich’s ataxia were asked to wear an active device for 3 weeks. Statistically significant improvements in SARA, 9HPT dominant hand, PATA test, 6MWT, cadence, length cycle, support right/cycle, support left/cycle, flight right/cycle, flight left/cycle, double support right/cycle, double support left/cycle, single support right/cycle, and single support left/cycle were observed between T0 and T1. This small open-labeled study shows preliminary evidence that focal mechanical vibration exerted by Equistasi® might improve limb and gait ataxia.