What is Ataxia?

Ataxia means that there is something wrong with the part of the brain that controls your muscles. You can therefore find it hard to walk or can be very wobbly when you do.

Sense of balance and coordination
The cerebellum controls our sense of balance and helps us to co-ordinate our body. It allows you to walk and helps you control your hands and arms so that you can eat with a knife and fork and lift food up to your mouth.

If you have hurt the very back of your brain, or had an operation on the cerebellum, you may have problems with your balance. This can get better over time but you may find that you can be a bit wobbly and unsteady on your feet. This can be frightening too.

Some people may have problems with their spinal cord. Although their brain might be working properly, the brain might not be able to get the messages to the legs to walk properly. This can also cause balance problems.

Being wobbly on your legs will stop you from moving around as much as you would like. It will also stop you from running and you might have to stop playing the sports you like. After hurting your head, the last thing we want you to do is fall over and hurt your head again.

Sometimes it’s not just the big things like walking that can be a problem. Ataxia can also affect the small movements we make so things like typing or writing can be very difficult. It might make you shake and tremble. It can also make it difficult for you to swallow.

Helping you with ataxia
There is no cure for ataxia but there are treatments that can help relieve the symptoms.  There are medicines that can be prescribed by a doctor and speech therapy can help with swallowing difficulties.

Physiotherapy can help you to become more steady on your feet. It’s almost like learning to walk all over again. This can be frustrating and you might feel upset and feel like giving up. Stick with it though, the physiotherapist will give you special exercises to do that will help you to regain your balance. 

If you are having problem with balance after you first come out of hospital, they sometimes give you a wheelchair to sit in. They may even give you a helmet to wear just in case you fall over. A lot is to do with which part of the brain is hurt, how you hurt it and if the skull was badly broken (fractured).

Being in a wheelchair or wearing a helmet can be stressful. Just try to remember that they are their to keep your brain safe and you might not have to use them for very long.