Loss of muscle coordination: ataxia

By Cristiano Antonino On Aug 25, 2022

Ataxia is a medical term for a disorder characterised by the progressive loss of muscular coordination that makes it difficult to perform certain voluntary movements and, in severe cases, can even undermine the patient’s autonomy, which may require constant assistance

The centre of muscle movement coordination is the cerebellum, which processes impulses carried to the muscles by the spinal cord and peripheral nerves.

Ataxia can be caused by various problems affecting the nervous and vestibular systems

They cause motor deficits such as lack of co-ordination of trunk, arms and head; lack of co-ordination of eye movements; urinary incontinence; difficulty swallowing and involuntary movements of limbs, head and trunk.

Ataxia is also one of the symptoms of ‘ataxic syndromes’.

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