Adapted vestibular rehabilitation in Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 3: a case report

Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA) are a group of progressive hereditary neurodegenerative disorders, with type 3 (SCA3) being the most prevalent. SCA3 is characterized by cerebellar ataxia, ocular movement abnormalities, dysarthria, and vestibular symptoms, such as dizziness and imbalance. Vestibular rehabilitation (VR), although classically recommended for peripheral vestibular disorders, has been investigated as a therapeutic possibility for central vestibulopathies. This study aimed to describe the effects of adapted vestibular rehabilitation, based on the Cawthorne and Cooksey protocol, in a patient diagnosed with SCA3. A 44-year-old female patient underwent an audiological assessment, anamnesis, and application of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaires before and after 12 sessions of VR. The therapeutic program included habituation and adaptation exercises and postural control strategies. Results showed an improvement in balance and gait performance, as well as a reduction in tinnitus and dizziness-related symptoms. The findings reinforce the effectiveness of adapted vestibular rehabilitation in patients with central vestibular disorders such as SCA3.