Ataxia exercise

Information for patients

Therapy Services

PROUD TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

SHEFFIELD TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
This leaflet is aimed at people with a diagnosis of ataxia who are able to
stand and walk with a walking aid or support. If you are struggling with
the exercises or feel that your walking or balance is getting worse by
doing them, please stop doing the exercises and consult your
physiotherapist.

What is ataxia?
Ataxia is a lack of muscle co-ordination which may affect your speech,
eye movements, the ability to swallow, walking, picking up objects and
other voluntary movements.
Some symptoms of ataxia may progress over time. However, doing
exercises regularly may help to delay this.

How can these exercises help?

By doing these balance exercises regularly you may be able to improve
your balance and co-ordination. This in turn, may help to improve your
ability to carry out daily activities. Even if symptoms don’t improve, these
exercises may help to maintain your present level of activity.

How long will it take me to do the exercises?

The exercises described in this leaflet do not take long to do and can
easily be fitted into your day at a time to suit you.
In order to benefit from these exercises, they should be performed daily
as part of a long term programme. This helps to maintain and hopefully
improve your balance and ability to carry out daily activities.

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How often should I do these exercises?
You should aim to go through the exercises selected for you by your
physiotherapist 1-2 times a day. Your physiotherapist will write down
the number of repetitions per exercise that you need to do. When doing
these exercises you also need to consider your fatigue levels and the
physical demands of other daily activities that you may do.

General instructions for all exercises:

• Each movement should be slow and rhythmical. Aim to improve
your control of movement; don't aim for speed.
• Initially when you start performing exercises, you may sway more
while doing exercises or find them difficult to perform. However,
after some practice this should start to improve.
• Goal setting - define one realistic goal that you want to achieve
within 4-6 weeks and focus on working towards achieving it. Your
physiotherapist can help you with this. Note your progress.

Goal:

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Bridging

1. Lie on your back with

your knees bent
and place your feet flat
on the floor.
2. Slowly lift your pelvis
and your lower back
off the floor and hold for few seconds.
3. Then slowly lower down. Aim for smooth movement without
jerks.
Repeat ______ times

Clam

1. Lie on your side with

your knees bent.
2. Tighten your pelvic
floor muscles and
gently pull your lower
stomach in.
3. Lift your top knee as far as you can, without letting your pelvis
rotate forward or back.
4. Keep your feet together during the exercise.

Repeat ______ times

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Heel to shin

1. Lying on your back,

sitting or standing
depending upon your
ability.
2. Place your heel of the
right foot just below your
left knee. Pass it straight
down the shin without
deviating or jerking and
back up again, repeating as quickly and accurately as possible.
3. Repeat with the other leg. Repeat ______ times

Stand up and sit down

1. Sit in front of a table or

chair to hold on to.
2. Lean forward and shift
your weight onto your
feet by bringing
your nose over your toes.
3. Slowly stand up, pushing
on the chair arms if
needed.
4. Sit down slowly and in a controlled way.
Repeat ______ times

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Knee bends

1. Stand facing the chair or table

with your feet apart and back
straight.
2. Bend your knees, hold for a few
seconds and then return to the
starting position. Repeat again.

Repeat ______ times

Side steps

1. Stand behind a chair or next to

something stable with your feet
hip-width apart.
2. Slowly take a big step to the side.
Go back to the original position.
3. Repeat with your other leg.

Repeat ______ times

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Frenkel's exercises

1. 2.

3.

1. Stand beside your kitchen worktop.

2. Mark the target spots on the floor as your therapist has shown
you.
3. Lift your leg and point your foot forward to the target in front of
you, bring your foot back to the original position, then point your
foot to the target at your side. Bring your leg back to the original
position and then repeat to the target behind you. Try to do this
slowly and in a controlled way.

Repeat ______ times

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Tandem stance / walking

1. Stand at the side of a chair or next to

something stable.
2. Stand with one foot in front of the
other. Hold for a few seconds. Repeat
with the other foot in front.
3. Progress to taking a step or two
forwards by placing your heel to your
toe with each step and then try
walking.

Repeat ______ times

For more information on benefits of physiotherapy for people with ataxia and
up-to-date information on ataxia, the recent Ataxia UK guidelines are available
online at www.ataxia.org.uk.

Your Physiotherapist:

Contact number:

Alternative formats can be available on request.

Please email: sth.alternativeformats@nhs.net
© Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2020
Re-use of all or any part of this document is governed by copyright and the “Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005”
SI 2005 No.1515. Information on re-use can be obtained from the Information Governance Department, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.
Email sth.infogov@nhs.net

PD8877-PIL3778 v3 Issue Date: February 2020. Review Date: February 2023