Phase I Single-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Balance and Aerobic Training in Degenerative Cerebellar Disease.

introductionPrimary deficits in individuals with cerebellar degeneration include ataxia, unstable gait, and incoordination. Balance training is routinely recommended to improve function whereas little is known regarding aerobic training.

objectiveTo determine the feasibility of conducting a randomized trial comparing balance and aerobic training in individuals with cerebellar degeneration.

designAssessor blinded randomized control phase I trial.

settingAssessments in medical center, home training.

participantsTwenty participants with cerebellar degeneration were randomized to home balance or aerobic training.

interventionAerobic training consisted of 4 weeks of stationary bicycle training, five times per week for 30-minute sessions. Home balance training consisted of performing the same duration of easy, moderate, and/or hard exercises. OUTCOME MEASURES: Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA), maximal oxygen consumption (VO

resultsAll 20 participants completed assigned training with no major adverse events. Seven of each group attained target training duration, frequency, and intensity. Although both groups had significant improvements in ataxia severity, balance, and gait measures, there were greater improvements in individuals who performed aerobic training in ataxia severity and maximal oxygen consumption when compared to balance training. The effect size for these outcome measures was determined to be large, indicating a phase II trial comparing the benefits of aerobic and balance training was feasible and required 26 participants per group. Improvements in SARA score and VO

conclusionsA phase II trial comparing balance and aerobic training in individuals with cerebellar degeneration is feasible. Benefits trended back toward baseline after training stopped, although benefits of longer duration exercise programs still need to be determined.