Ataxia
Helping people with ataxia improve movement, stability, and everyday independence through personalised rehabilitation.
Ataxia
Ataxia is a neurological condition that affects coordination, balance, and control of movement. It occurs when parts of the nervous system responsible for coordination, often the cerebellum, are damaged or affected.
Ataxia may be caused by genetic conditions, neurological disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, or brain injury.
Common symptoms may include:
- Poor balance and instability when standing or walking.
- Uncoordinated or clumsy movements.
- Difficulty with precise hand movements.
- Tremor or shaky movements.
- Changes in speech or swallowing.
- Fatigue during physical activity.
These difficulties can make everyday tasks and mobility more challenging.
Our aim is to help you achieve meaningful, functional goals and maximise independence, whether in early recovery or living with longer-term effects of stroke.
How we can help
At Nicole Lavin Neuro Rehab, we provide specialist physiotherapy and occupational therapy to support individuals living with ataxia.
Rehabilitation may include:
- Comprehensive assessment of balance, coordination, and mobility.
- Balance and postural control training.
- Gait retraining using LiteGait body-weight support technology.
- Walking practice using the AlterG anti-gravity treadmill.
- Hydrotherapy to allow safe movement and balance training in water.
- Coordination and functional movement exercises.
- Occupational therapy to support daily activities and independence.
- Advice on strategies and equipment to improve safety and mobility.
Our therapy focuses on improving stability, movement control, and confidence in everyday activities.
Our services may include:
- 1:1 specialist neurophysiotherapy focusing on task-specific motor retraining, reducing co-contraction, and improving movement efficiency.
- Postural re-education and deep stabiliser activation.
- Sensory and proprioceptive retraining.
- Targeted strengthening of underactive muscle groups.
- Endurance training to reduce fatigue-related worsening.
- Hydrotherapy to support freer movement, reduce muscle overactivity, and improve relaxation and balance.
- Occupational therapy assessment of daily activities, work tasks, and meaningful roles.
- Fatigue management and pacing strategies.
- Equipment recommendations, splinting where appropriate, and environmental adaptations.
- Vocational support and workplace adjustments.
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