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Speech, Kinematics and Gait Analysis of Degenerative Cerebellar Ataxia Syndromes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2025

Jacky Ganguly Open the ORCID record for Jacky Ganguly [Opens in a new window] ,
Dina Babiker ,
Yokhesh Tamilselvam ,
Sima Soltani ,
Yekta Mahdi ,
Mellany Tuesta Bernaola ,
Dinkar Kulshreshtha ,
Scott Adams Open the ORCID record for Scott Adams [Opens in a new window]  and
Mandar Jog Open the ORCID record for Mandar Jog [Opens in a new window]
Jacky Ganguly*
Affiliation:
Movement Disorder Centre, London Health Sciences Centre, Western University, London, ON, Canada
Dina Babiker
Affiliation:
Movement Disorder Centre, London Health Sciences Centre, Western University, London, ON, Canada
Yokhesh Tamilselvam
Affiliation:
Canadian Surgical Technologies and Advanced Robotics (CSTAR), Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Western University, London, ON, Canada
Sima Soltani
Affiliation:
Movement Disorder Centre, London Health Sciences Centre, Western University, London, ON, Canada
Yekta Mahdi
Affiliation:
Movement Disorder Centre, London Health Sciences Centre, Western University, London, ON, Canada
Mellany Tuesta Bernaola
Affiliation:
Movement Disorder Centre, London Health Sciences Centre, Western University, London, ON, Canada
Dinkar Kulshreshtha
Affiliation:
Movement Disorder Centre, London Health Sciences Centre, Western University, London, ON, Canada
Scott Adams
Affiliation:
School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, London, ON, Canada
Mandar Jog
Affiliation:
Movement Disorder Centre, London Health Sciences Centre, Western University, London, ON, Canada
*
Corresponding author: Jacky Ganguly; Email: jackyganguly03@gmail.com
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Abstract

Introduction:

Cerebellar ataxias are a heterogeneous group of disorders clinically manifest as impaired coordination during a voluntary motor task resulting from cortico-cerebellar brain network dysfunction, resulting in multiple motor systems including speech, upper limb dexterous movement and gait. Objective assessment of these dysfunctional motor domains provides vital clues in assessing the underlying pathophysiology.

Methods:

In this study, speech, upper limb kinematics and gait were studied using acoustic software (Praat), upper limb robot (KINARM) and gait carpet (Zeno Walkway with PKMAS). Clinical assessment was conducted using the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA).

Results:

In speech analysis, ataxia patients had slower and variable ‘tuh’ syllable repetition performance than healthy controls. In KINARM reaching tasks, ataxia patients displayed less accuracy and efficacy as measured by endpoint error (EE) and mean perpendicular error, along with slower mean and peak velocity of arm movements, prolonged reaction time and increased inter-trial variability. Moreover, there were more EEs while applying load during arm movement. Gait analysis revealed reduced cadence, reduced stride velocity, reduced step length, longer time in the double support phase and increased variability of step length, stride velocity, double support percentage and gait cycle time.

Conclusion:

The study highlights the critical role played by the cerebellum during movement execution and has paved the way for more comprehensive future studies on degenerative cerebellar ataxia, incorporating kinematic measurements in multiple motor domains.

Résumé

RÉSUMÉIntroduction :

L’ataxie cérébelleuse forme un groupe hétérogène de troubles qui se manifestent, sur le plan clinique, par des problèmes de coordination durant l’exécution de tâches motrices volontaires; ceux-ci résultent d’un dysfonctionnement du réseau cortico-cérébelleux et ils touchent différents domaines d’activité motrice, notamment l’élocution, la dextérité des mouvements des membres supérieurs et la démarche. Une évaluation objective de ces différents types de troubles moteurs fournit de précieux indices sur la physiopathologie sous-jacente.

Méthode :

Dans l’étude ici présentée, l’élocution, la cinématique des membres supérieurs et la démarche ont été évaluées à l’aide d’un logiciel acoustique (Praat), d’un dispositif robotique de bras (KINARM) et d’un tapis de marche (Zeno Walkway muni du logiciel d’analyse de mouvements ProtoKinetics). L’évaluation clinique, quant à elle, repose sur l’échelle Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA).

Résultats :

En ce qui concerne l’analyse de l’élocution, la répétition de la syllabe [tuh] [en anglais] était plus lente et plus variable chez les patients atteints d’ataxie que chez les témoins. Quant aux tâches de contact mesurées par le robot KINARM, les sujets atteints d’ataxie faisaient preuve d’une précision et d’une efficacité moindres, marquées par les erreurs d’atteinte de la cible et les erreurs perpendiculaires moyennes ainsi que par le ralentissement de la rapidité moyenne et maximale du mouvement des bras, la prolongation du temps de réaction et l’augmentation de la variabilité entre les essais. De plus, le nombre d’erreurs d’atteinte de la cible augmentait lorsqu’une charge était appliquée durant le mouvement des bras. Enfin, l’analyse de la démarche a révélé une réduction de la cadence, une réduction de la rapidité de foulée, une diminution de la longueur de pas, un prolongement de la phase de double appui ainsi qu’une augmentation de la variabilité de la longueur de pas, de la rapidité de foulée, du pourcentage de double appui et de la durée du cycle de marche.

Conclusion :

L’étude fait ressortir l’importance cruciale du rôle du cervelet dans l’exécution des mouvements, et ouvre la voie à de futures études exhaustives sur l’ataxie cérébelleuse dégénérative, intégrant des mesures cinématiques dans plusieurs domaines de la motricité.

Keywords

Cerebellar ataxiagaitKINARMSARAspeech
Type
Original Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , First View , pp. 1 - 7
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation

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