Spinocerebellar Ataxias, Tai Chi
Conditions
Brief summary
Spinocerebellar atrophy is the most common autosomal dominant inherited ataxia. There are over thirty subtypes, which characterize neurologic features differently. They all have obvious substantial cerebellar atrophies in image, and unstable gait、ataxia. In general a prevalence of about three cases per 100 000 people is assumed, but this may be an underestimate. Progressive neurologic degeneration, in about 10-20 years, will leads to disability or wheelchair-dependent. Accompanying with fatigue, downhill course of the disease often made patients depressive and hopeless. The recent review of researches concludes no effective therapy for the disease. The purpose of the investigator's study is to explore the Tai-chi exercise effect for spinocerebellar ataxia.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALTai chi
participants were required to receive hospital-based Tai chi training at least once a month, and home-based Tai chi exercise at least three times a week over the next 9 months
participants without Tai chi training still received routine conventional medicine
Sponsors
Changhua Christian Hospital
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
20 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* progressive ataxia accompanied with the observation of cerebellar atrophy on magnetic resonance or computed tomography images * SARA score of less than 20
Exclusion criteria
* Patients with complicated cerebellar disorders, such as multiple system atrophy, Parkinson-plus syndromes, secondary cerebellar degeneration from encephalitis, trauma, hypoxia, cerebrovascular diseases, and toxic- or drug-induced cerebellar degeneration * SARA score of larger than 20
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia(SARA) | assessed at baseline and 9 months, 9 months reported as Outcome Measure Data | SARA assesses eight aspects of cerebellar function: walking, sitting, standing, speaking, finger chasing, the nose-finger test, fast alternating hand movements, and the heel-shin slide. The eight categories accumulate score ranging from 0 (no ataxia) to 40 (most severe ataxia).Gait (0-8 points),Stance (0-6 points),Sitting (0-4 points),Speech disturbance (0-6 points),Finger chase (0-4 points),Nose-finger test (0-4 points),Fast alternating hand movement (0-4 points),Heel-shin slide (0-4 points) |
Participant flow
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Tai Chi Subjects accepted Tai Chi exercise once a week in the hospital, and home-based training with a video. | 12 |
| Controlled Group No Tai Chi training. Only regular out-patient clinic visiting. | 9 |
| Total | 21 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Tai Chi | Controlled Group | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Continuous | 51.5 years | 51 years | 51 years |
| scale for assessment and rating of ataxia | 9 units on a scale | 9.5 units on a scale | 9.5 units on a scale |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 6 Participants | 3 Participants | 9 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 6 Participants | 6 Participants | 12 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk | EG001 affected / at risk |
|---|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | 0 / 12 | 0 / 9 |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 12 | 0 / 9 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 12 | 0 / 9 |
Outcome results
Primary
Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia(SARA)
SARA assesses eight aspects of cerebellar function: walking, sitting, standing, speaking, finger chasing, the nose-finger test, fast alternating hand movements, and the heel-shin slide. The eight categories accumulate score ranging from 0 (no ataxia) to 40 (most severe ataxia).Gait (0-8 points),Stance (0-6 points),Sitting (0-4 points),Speech disturbance (0-6 points),Finger chase (0-4 points),Nose-finger test (0-4 points),Fast alternating hand movement (0-4 points),Heel-shin slide (0-4 points)
Time frame: assessed at baseline and 9 months, 9 months reported as Outcome Measure Data
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEDIAN) |
|---|---|---|
| Tai Chi | Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia(SARA) | 11.5 score on a scale |
| Controlled Group | Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia(SARA) | 9 score on a scale |