Effects of physiotherapy on degenerative cerebellar ataxia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundEvidence of the effectiveness of physiotherapy, including muscle strength training, coordination training, aerobic exercise, cycling regimen, balance training, gait training, and activity of daily living training, in patients with degenerative cerebellar ataxia (DCA) was insufficient for c...

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Main Authors: Akiyoshi Matsugi, Kyota Bando, Yuki Kondo, Yutaka Kikuchi, Kazuhiro Miyata, Yuichi Hiramatsu, Yuya Yamanaka, Hiroaki Tanaka, Yuta Okuda, Koshiro Haruyama, Yuichiro Yamasaki
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Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Neurology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2024.1491142/full
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author Akiyoshi Matsugi
Kyota Bando
Yuki Kondo
Yutaka Kikuchi
Kazuhiro Miyata
Yuichi Hiramatsu
Yuya Yamanaka
Hiroaki Tanaka
Yuta Okuda
Koshiro Haruyama
Yuichiro Yamasaki
author_facet Akiyoshi Matsugi
Kyota Bando
Yuki Kondo
Yutaka Kikuchi
Kazuhiro Miyata
Yuichi Hiramatsu
Yuya Yamanaka
Hiroaki Tanaka
Yuta Okuda
Koshiro Haruyama
Yuichiro Yamasaki
author_sort Akiyoshi Matsugi
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundEvidence of the effectiveness of physiotherapy, including muscle strength training, coordination training, aerobic exercise, cycling regimen, balance training, gait training, and activity of daily living training, in patients with degenerative cerebellar ataxia (DCA) was insufficient for clinical decision making. We aimed to explore clinical outcomes and examine the parameters associated with physical impairment and activity in people with DCA based on preregistration (PROSPERO: CRD42024493883).MethodsThe PubMed, Cochrane Library, CHINAL, and PEDro databases were searched for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Data extraction, quality assessment, and heterogeneity analyses were conducted. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation framework (GRADE) was used to assess the quality of evidence, and a meta-analysis was performed.ResultsEighteen RCTs, which included 398 participants, showed a serious risk of bias (RoB) and low certainty of evidence for this primary outcome. For meta-analysis, 315 patients assessed based on the Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) were included. Overall, physiotherapy significantly reduced SARA scores (MD = −1.41, [95% CI: −2.16, −0.66]); the subgroup analysis showed that the following interventions exerted significant effects: multi-aspect training program (5 studies, MD = −1.59, [95% CI: −5.15, −0.03]), balance training (3 studies, MD = −1.58, [95% CI: −2.55, −0.62]), and aerobic training (3 studies, MD = −1.65, [95% CI: −2.53, −0.77]). By contrast, vibration (2 studies, MD = −0.56, [95% CI: −2.05, 0.93]) and dual-task training (1 study, MD = 0.24, [95% CI: −6.4, 6.88]) exhibited no significant effects.ConclusionPhysical therapy, especially multi-aspect physical therapy such as muscle strengthening, coordination training, gait training, and ADL training, may reduce DCA symptoms. Further, balance and aerobic training can be added to the program. However, the estimated effect size may change in future studies because of the serious RoB, very low certainty of evidence, and high heterogeneity with SARA as the primary outcome. High-quality RCTs are required to establish evidence for the effectiveness of physical therapy in patients with DCA.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=493883, identifier: CRD42024493883.
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spelling doaj-art-ae67b3a08e2c4b7fbd4e27d9a369b2552025-08-20T02:27:40ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952025-01-011510.3389/fneur.2024.14911421491142Effects of physiotherapy on degenerative cerebellar ataxia: a systematic review and meta-analysisAkiyoshi Matsugi0Kyota Bando1Yuki Kondo2Yutaka Kikuchi3Kazuhiro Miyata4Yuichi Hiramatsu5Yuya Yamanaka6Hiroaki Tanaka7Yuta Okuda8Koshiro Haruyama9Yuichiro Yamasaki10Faculty of Rehabilitation, Shijonawate Gakuen University, Osaka, JapanNational Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, JapanNational Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Rehabilitation for Intractable Neurological Disorders, Institute of Brain and Blood Vessels Mihara Memorial Hospital, Gunma, JapanDepartment of Physical Therapy, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Science, Ibaraki, JapanNeurorehabilitaion Research Institute, Morinomiya Hospital, Osaka, JapanDepartment of Rehabilitation, Osaka University Hospital, Osaka, JapanDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kansai Medical University Hospital, Osaka, JapanDepartment of Rehabilitation for Intractable Neurological Disorders, Institute of Brain and Blood Vessels Mihara Memorial Hospital, Gunma, JapanDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Science, Juntendo University, Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Rehabilitation, Maruki Memorial Medical and Social Welfare Center, Saitama, JapanBackgroundEvidence of the effectiveness of physiotherapy, including muscle strength training, coordination training, aerobic exercise, cycling regimen, balance training, gait training, and activity of daily living training, in patients with degenerative cerebellar ataxia (DCA) was insufficient for clinical decision making. We aimed to explore clinical outcomes and examine the parameters associated with physical impairment and activity in people with DCA based on preregistration (PROSPERO: CRD42024493883).MethodsThe PubMed, Cochrane Library, CHINAL, and PEDro databases were searched for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Data extraction, quality assessment, and heterogeneity analyses were conducted. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation framework (GRADE) was used to assess the quality of evidence, and a meta-analysis was performed.ResultsEighteen RCTs, which included 398 participants, showed a serious risk of bias (RoB) and low certainty of evidence for this primary outcome. For meta-analysis, 315 patients assessed based on the Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) were included. Overall, physiotherapy significantly reduced SARA scores (MD = −1.41, [95% CI: −2.16, −0.66]); the subgroup analysis showed that the following interventions exerted significant effects: multi-aspect training program (5 studies, MD = −1.59, [95% CI: −5.15, −0.03]), balance training (3 studies, MD = −1.58, [95% CI: −2.55, −0.62]), and aerobic training (3 studies, MD = −1.65, [95% CI: −2.53, −0.77]). By contrast, vibration (2 studies, MD = −0.56, [95% CI: −2.05, 0.93]) and dual-task training (1 study, MD = 0.24, [95% CI: −6.4, 6.88]) exhibited no significant effects.ConclusionPhysical therapy, especially multi-aspect physical therapy such as muscle strengthening, coordination training, gait training, and ADL training, may reduce DCA symptoms. Further, balance and aerobic training can be added to the program. However, the estimated effect size may change in future studies because of the serious RoB, very low certainty of evidence, and high heterogeneity with SARA as the primary outcome. High-quality RCTs are required to establish evidence for the effectiveness of physical therapy in patients with DCA.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=493883, identifier: CRD42024493883.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2024.1491142/fullcerebellumataxiadegenerative cerebellar ataxiaphysical therapyphysical rehabilitationsystematic review
spellingShingle Akiyoshi Matsugi
Kyota Bando
Yuki Kondo
Yutaka Kikuchi
Kazuhiro Miyata
Yuichi Hiramatsu
Yuya Yamanaka
Hiroaki Tanaka
Yuta Okuda
Koshiro Haruyama
Yuichiro Yamasaki
Effects of physiotherapy on degenerative cerebellar ataxia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Frontiers in Neurology
cerebellum
ataxia
degenerative cerebellar ataxia
physical therapy
physical rehabilitation
systematic review
title Effects of physiotherapy on degenerative cerebellar ataxia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Effects of physiotherapy on degenerative cerebellar ataxia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Effects of physiotherapy on degenerative cerebellar ataxia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Effects of physiotherapy on degenerative cerebellar ataxia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Effects of physiotherapy on degenerative cerebellar ataxia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort effects of physiotherapy on degenerative cerebellar ataxia a systematic review and meta analysis
topic cerebellum
ataxia
degenerative cerebellar ataxia
physical therapy
physical rehabilitation
systematic review
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2024.1491142/full
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