Rehabilitation of a U.S. Army soldier diagnosed with cerebellar atrophy with an ataxic gait

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Balance impairments can disrupt the careers of U.S. Army soldiers and put themselves and their mates in danger. The purpose of this case report is to review the rehabilitation process and outcome of a U.S. Army soldier diagnosed with gait ataxia secondary to cerebellar atrophy. Case Description: The patient is a 35-year-old active duty U.S. Army male who presented with an ataxic gait pattern and had magnetic resonance image evidence of cerebellar atrophy. Outcomes: Over the course of 7 months of rehabilitation, the patient showed improvement in ambulation and balance as evidenced by improved dynamic gait index and Propriotest dynamic motion analysis scores. Discussion: This relatively young, active duty soldier was able to improve with physical therapy intervention. However, even in this young, highly motivated patient, it took several months of rehabilitation to achieve his goals. © Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S. All rights reserved.