Changes in Standing Postural Control Ability in a Case of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 31 With Physical Therapy Focusing on the Center of Gravity Sway Variables and Lower Leg Muscle Activity.

Spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD) is a progressive disease characterized by cerebellar ataxia or the posterior spinal cord. Among these, spinocerebellar ataxia type 31 (SCA31) is genetically more common in the Japanese population and is characterized by pure ataxia, resulting in severe disturbances in postural balance, with common falls. Therefore, rehabilitation is important to improve postural balance. Light touch is a known method of reducing postural sway, which acts with the light touching of an object with the body. We herein present a case of a patient with SCA31 who was trained in a standing position by lightly touching the back of the body to a wall surface. Dynamic interarticular coordination exercises were also performed as part of the rehabilitation program. As a result, even in the progressive SCA31, improvements in standing postural balance and activities of daily living contributed to improvements in the patient's postural balance. We followed the progress of postural control ability using the center of gravity sway measurement and electromyography and described some interesting characteristics of the patient's postural control ability in this report.